December 16, 2025
Fake drip, real tears
Children with cancer scammed out of millions fundraised for their treatment
Parents filmed, kids cried, scammers cashed in—outrage erupts
TLDR: BBC uncovered a global scam staging tear-jerker videos of sick kids to raise millions, while families say they received nothing. Comments rage at no arrests, debate quitting online donations versus verifying first, and demand platforms act as users surface charity filings.
The internet recoiled after a BBC World Service probe revealed slick, staged crowdfunding videos of real sick kids—fake drips, onion tears, birthday props—while families say they got none of the cash. In one case, Khalil’s campaign showed $27k raised; his mom says they got a $700 filming fee, and he died a year later. Commenters went nuclear. SilverElfin’s heartbroken question—“No one is going to jail?”—set the tone, while peanutz454 declared this is why people stop donating. ktallett demanded harsher sentences for anyone exploiting families in hospitals, and Animats dropped receipts, pointing to IRS charity filings for “Chance Letikva” in Brooklyn, complete with a Form 990 and a tiny house address, sparking a “registered ≠ respectable” showdown. The alleged key player, an Israeli man in Canada named Erez Hadari, became the community’s instant villain. Shuddown called it “one of the most vile scams,” and the thread’s memes turned bleakly comic: “onion marketing,” “Form 990 cosplay,” and a crying emoji next to a drip bag labeled “donor tears.” Some warned against blanket cynicism; others preached “verify-before-you-give,” donate through hospitals, or vetted local charities. With links to charity filings and pressure on platforms like YouTube, the vibe is rage, mistrust, and a collective hunt for accountability.
Key Points
- •BBC World Service uncovered a global network of deceptive crowdfunding campaigns using staged videos of sick children.
- •In one case, a Philippine child named Khalil had a video filmed with staged elements; a campaign showed $27,000 raised, but his family says they received only a $700 filming fee.
- •Investigators identified 15 families who got little to none of the funds; nine linked to the same network saw none of roughly $4 million raised.
- •A whistleblower said the network sought young, bald children for videos; a key figure identified is Israeli-Canadian man Erez Hadari.
- •Campaigns with broad reach ran under the name Chance Letikva, and test donations showed site totals increased; similar videos appeared widely on YouTube.