World of Secrets (BBC)

Season 10, Episode 3: The Child Cancer Scam—The Recruiters

Release Date: December 22, 2025
Host/Reporter: Simi Jalaosho

Episode Overview

In this deeply investigative episode, the BBC unpacks the heartbreaking mechanics behind the child cancer crowdfunding scam, specifically focusing on how vulnerable families are "recruited" to front fraudulent fundraising campaigns. Reporter Simi Jalaosho travels to Colombia to meet with Anna and her family, victims of the scam, uncovering how recruiters and international figures manipulated desperate circumstances for financial gain. The story exposes the coercive tactics used to obtain emotionally charged videos and follows the investigators as they navigate a complex web of charity registrations and shadowy intermediaries.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Anna's Ordeal & Isabel's Role

• Initial Approach: Anna, a 7-year-old undergoing brain tumor treatment, and her father Sergio are contacted by Isabel Hernandez, who promises financial help but insists on specific types of photos and videos for a supposed international foundation (01:45–04:58).
  • Isabel’s Persistent Demands: “I need clear photos with the girl in them. … Get in front of the bed and take proper photos.” (Isabel, 02:46)
  • Targeting the Child Directly: When Sergio struggles to keep up, Isabel starts messaging Anna herself, pushing for more images and videos even as Anna is exhausted and undergoing chemo (03:09).
• Broken Promises: Despite Anna’s compliance, Isabel repeatedly claims the process is slow because not enough material has been sent. After months with no results, Anna protests, telling Isabel she can’t send more photographs (04:12–05:14).
• The Scam Revealed: In 2025, upon Anna’s inquiry about the supposed money, Isabel finally admits the foundation “disappeared,” and “nothing was done with [the video]” (05:44). This is a lie—Simi verifies the video was uploaded, raising $250,000 (06:04).

2. Life and Family in Colombia

• Homecoming: Simi visits Anna’s family and describes their return to their indigenous community in rural Colombia after treatment, providing rich detail on their modest lifestyle and deep generational roots in traditional medicine (06:04–11:24).
• Economic Hardship: Sergio, Anna’s single parent, was forced to sell all his cattle and even sleep rough while Anna received treatment. The family relies on mutual support and traditional knowledge, underlining their vulnerability (12:50–13:14).

3. The Recruiters’ Modus Operandi

• Recruitment Tactics: Isabel appears with a man identified by Sergio as “Erik”—later revealed as Israeli national Erez Hadary—who claims he can get them money by filming a video for international aid (14:38).
• Scripted Suffering: Anna is made to recite lines describing her dire situation, is forced to cry on camera, and is even given eye drops to simulate tears. Sergio is handed a contract he can't read or keep, and receives a one-off payment of about $260 (16:23–17:13).
  • Emotional Impact: “They made her cry and tell her sad story.” (Sergio, 16:23); “It made me cry having to do it.” (Sergio, 17:06)
• After the Campaign: The family is unaware their video is being used to raise substantial sums. They remain destitute and demoralized on discovering the truth (17:47).
  • Quote: “They used Ana to raise funds for their own benefit, not for her.” (Vidal, 17:47)

4. A Confrontation with Isabel—and Her Defense

• Isabel Interviewed: After persistent follow-up (22:35–27:50), Isabel reluctantly admits she was unemployed and lured by the promise of a salary to “find children with cancer.” She claims she did not know the true intent of the campaign organizers or what would happen with the videos, nor did she see any funds herself (23:25–24:33).
• Denial and Backtracking: Isabel alternately denies and tries to minimize her repeated requests to Anna for more content, until played tapes of her exact words (25:00–25:37).
• Reactions to the Truth:
  • Upon being shown Anna's crowdfunding page: “I cannot believe it.” (Isabel, 26:45)
  • Expressing remorse: “Terrible.” (Isabel, 27:00); “A lot of pain. I helped those children because they were also victims. Sick children.” (Isabel, 27:10)
  • “If I had known they were going to do this, to play with the lives of sick children, I would never have got involved. … I have got my own daughters. … But believe me, I'm not [to blame].” (Isabel, 27:21)

5. Tracing the Money and Organization Structures

• Follow the Money: Anna’s family receives a message from another Israeli number offering to connect them with a lawyer, promising to pursue the $250,000 supposedly raised for them (28:17–28:50). Nothing materializes.
• Interview with an Anonymous Israeli “Translator”: The anonymous intermediary describes being hired for Spanish translation, initially believing in the cause, but realizing only a fraction reached families:
  • “They’ll tell me 50% from this money goes to Facebook, goes to advertising. Then they said maybe even more. And then they say that the other 50% would go to the families or other kids.” (Translator, 31:00)
• Networks of 'Charities': The translator confirms the names “Walls of Hope” and “Chancellor Tikva,” notes “religious guys, rabbis” are involved, and that the organizers operate similar scams elsewhere, including Ukraine (32:04–33:19).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Description | |-----------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:46 | Isabel Hernandez | “I need clear photos with the girl in them. ... Get in front of the bed and take proper photos.” | | 16:23 | Sergio Carre | “They made her cry and tell her sad story.” | | 17:47 | Vidal | “They used Ana to raise funds for their own benefit, not for her.” | | 18:16 | Sergio Carre | “I felt cheated and taken advantage of. But anyway, now I'm happy because the little girl got better...”| | 24:10 | Isabel Hernandez | “I did (have suspicions). But they offered me a good salary to get the children…” | | 26:45 | Isabel Hernandez | “I cannot believe it.” (Reacting to evidence of $800,000 raised online) | | 27:00 | Isabel Hernandez | “Terrible.” | | 27:21 | Isabel Hernandez | “If I had known they were going to do this, to play with the lives of sick children, I would never…” | | 31:00 | Anonymous Translator | “They'll tell me 50% from this money goes to Facebook... then they say that the other 50% would go to the families or other kids.” |

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:45 – Isabel begins messaging Sergio and Anna; repeated requests for photos and videos.
• 05:44 – Isabel falsely claims "nothing was done" with Anna’s video; campaign actually raised $250,000.
• 06:04–12:00 – Simi visits Anna's family in Colombia; background and context on their life.
• 13:14–17:13 – Recap of the recruitment encounter, coercion into making the video, and the ensuing scam.
• 22:35–27:50 – Simi confronts Isabel Hernandez; Isabel’s denials, explanations, and expressions of regret.
• 28:17–29:39 – Israeli intermediary contacts the family, offering legal help unsuccessfully.
• 29:39–33:19 – Simi interviews another (anonymous) Israeli “translator,” who reveals more about the inner workings and international nature of the scam.

Episode Tone and Style

The reporting is compassionate and immersive, with Simi’s narration emphasizing empathy for the families, pulling back the curtain on the recruiters’ emotional coercion and manipulation, and sharply criticizing the exploitation of both children and local intermediaries. There’s an undercurrent of anger and heartbreak at the families’ fates, matched by a relentless drive to uncover those responsible.

Flow & Takeaways for Listeners

This episode is a step-by-step exposure of how recruiters fuel an international scamming machine built around the suffering of children with cancer. Through personal stories, evidence, and careful cross-examination, the investigation reveals the scope and cruelty of the scam—how family tragedy becomes bait, trust is weaponized, and hope is ruthlessly commodified. By the end, listeners are left with a clearer understanding of not just how the scam operates, but also how difficult it is for its victims to seek justice or restitution. The episode concludes by hinting at broader global links—as the schemes move on like a conveyor belt, always seeking new victims.

Next Episode Preview:
The investigation turns its sights to Ukraine, where the scam’s familiar tactics and organizers are already at work.

For More:
Visit BBC World of Secrets podcast page for previous seasons and episodes.