US woman falsely claimed she had cancer, defrauded family to fund trips to Australia

The FBI is seeking Vanessa O'Rourke, a 37-year-old woman from Pennsylvania, accused of orchestrating a fraud scheme by falsely claiming she had terminal brain cancer. O'Rourke allegedly used this fabricated illness to solicit thousands of dollars from friends, family members, and other supporters. According to the FBI, O'Rourke, who was a 28-year-old brain surgery student at Temple Med in 2015, informed her relatives and friends that she had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She claimed she needed to travel to Australia for experimental treatment. Investigators have determined these claims to be false. Between October 2015 and July 2016, O'Rourke received $11,740 in donations from over 140 individuals based on these fraudulent pretenses. O'Rourke traveled to Australia in April 2016, but instead of seeking medical treatment, she spent her time engaging in leisure activities. Upon her return to Harleysville, near Philadelphia, she continued to solicit funds, persuading family members to organize a fundraising page and even a benefit event at a local restaurant. Some of the money raised was used to fund a second trip to Australia later in 2016. In May 2018, O'Rourke was indicted on 15 counts of wire fraud by a Pennsylvania court. An international arrest warrant was subsequently issued. Despite efforts to locate her, authorities have been unsuccessful so far. They currently believe she may be residing in Queensland, Australia. The FBI has renewed its appeal for public assistance in finding O'Rourke as their investigation continues.

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Through her false and fraudulent pretenses, her family and others provided money and support