The Child Cancer Scam: 3. The recruiters

World of Secrets

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary

4.7 • 765 Ratings

🗓️ 22 December 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A woman called Isabel pushes a little girl to send videos from her hospital bed. It’s part of a recruitment drive for sick children in Colombia to take part in campaigns. What does she know about the hundreds of thousands of dollars that appear to have been raised? It’s money the family never saw. Who was she working for, and what can she tell us about this scam?

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the child depicted is a model.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts.
0:12.5	It's October 2023 and Sergio Care is in a Colombian hospital with his sick daughter.
0:25.1	A woman called Isabel Hernandez is sending him voice messages.
0:26.9	Lots of them.
0:34.7	Good morning, Mr. Sergio.
0:35.5	How are you?
0:36.8	Good bless you.
0:43.3	I have always told you this is a process to make things happen, but you also need to do your part.
0:47.4	I have asked for photos and videos and you have sent nothing.
0:49.9	It seems like you are not interested.
0:58.1	Sergio is interested. He needs help, financial help, which is what Isabel is promising.
1:01.3	But he has a lot on his mind.
1:05.9	His seven-year-old girl, Anna, is receiving treatment for a brain tumor.
1:09.1	He sends Isabel photos of her in hospital.
1:11.3	But she wants more.
1:18.2	I need clear photos with the girl in them.
1:20.3	They need to be good shots.
1:23.7	Get in front of the bed and take proper photos.
1:26.4	He's not very good with his phone.
1:29.3	Usually, Anna looks after it.
1:35.2	So when Sergio doesn't reply, Isabel starts messaging Anna directly.
1:41.6	Anita, tell your dad to send me more photos of you.
	...

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