A Pennsylvania woman accused of pretending to have terminal brain cancer to raise thousands of dollars from friends, family members and supporters is now being sought by the FBI, years after she was accused in a fraud scheme.Vanessa O’Rourke, 37, was accused of falsely claiming she had glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and used the story to raise money through donations and fundraisers.According to the FBI, O’Rourke told relatives and friends in 2015 that she had been diagnosed with the disease and needed to travel to Australia to receive experimental treatment. Investigators say these allegations are false.O’Rourke was a 28-year-old brain surgery student at Temple Med at the time, and received $11,740 in donations from more than 140 people between October 2015 and July 2016.“Through her false and fraudulent claims, her family and others provided money and support,” the FBI said in a statement.O’Rourke traveled to Australia in April 2016 but did not undergo any medical treatment. Instead, she spent her time participating in recreational activities. After returning home to Harleysville, near Philadelphia, O’Rourke convinced her family members to continue raising money on her behalf.
Relatives organized a fundraising page and even held a charity event at a local restaurant, where attendees paid $20 to enter.
Some of the money raised was later used to fund another trip to Australia in 2016.The case eventually led to O’Rourke being indicted on 15 counts of wire fraud in a Pennsylvania court in May 2018. An international arrest warrant was later issued, but investigators have so far been unable to locate her.Authorities believe she may be living in Queensland, Australia. The FBI has renewed its appeal for information as efforts to find O’Rourke continue.
