The Child Cancer Scam: 6. The calls

12/29/202533 min

After never receiving the money raised in their children’s name, mothers are finally confronting the scammers and demanding answers.

Now is the time to ask why. Where is the money?

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.

World of Secrets will be back with gripping new investigations in 2026.

Clips

First 90 seconds

Simi Jalosho· Host0:00
[phone ringing] It's late evening in Cebu in the Philippines, and Aljin is getting the kids ready for bed when her phone goes off. [phone ringing] She sees Erez Hadari on the screen. She's been waiting for this call for weeks.
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:22
Where are you?
Aljin· Soundbite0:24
I am in my house.
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:26
You where?
Aljin· Soundbite0:30
In my house. How are you?
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:34
You changed your hair.
Aljin· Soundbite0:36
No. Where are you now?
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:40
Canada.
Simi Jalosho· Host0:43
He's bare-chested and yawning. It looks like he's just woken up.
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:49
Did you go visit Khalil lately?
Aljin· Soundbite0:51
Yes. I miss Khalil.
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:52
I had a dream about you and him.
Aljin· Soundbite0:56
Can I ask you something?
Erez Hadari· Soundbite0:58
Yes.
Aljin· Soundbite1:01
Uh, about the campaign of Khalil, how is it?
Simi Jalosho· Host1:05
Erez's face drops.
Erez Hadari· Soundbite1:08
What campaign? It's... We don't have a campaign for three years.
Simi Jalosho· Host1:12
He turns and looks out the window.
Aljin· Soundbite1:14
For Khalil?
Erez Hadari· Soundbite1:15
No, it's not... Never nothing happened.
Aljin· Soundbite1:18
Is it true?
Erez Hadari· Soundbite1:20
Yeah.
Aljin· Soundbite1:22
Because I see the link of Khalil's, uh, fundraising is, uh, still running,