A woman from Pennsylvania, accused of deceiving her friends and family out of substantial sums by claiming to have a terminal brain tumor, has made it onto the FBI’s most wanted list. Authorities allege she misused donations for luxurious trips to Australia instead of seeking medical care.
The FBI disclosed on May 23 that they are actively pursuing Vanessa O’Rourke, who has been evading capture since her indictment on conspiracy charges back in 2018.
Now 37, O’Rourke purportedly spent months convincing those close to her that she was dying from glioblastoma, a severe and often deadly brain cancer, while soliciting funds for treatment, living expenses, and supposedly experimental medical care abroad.
According to the FBI, she claimed that traditional therapies were futile and that traveling to Australia for a special procedure represented her best hope for survival.
Friends and family were reportedly supportive, raising money and organizing fundraisers to assist her in what they believed was a battle against a terminal illness. However, authorities insist that her cancer diagnosis was entirely fabricated.
Investigators suggest that between October 2015 and July 2016, O’Rourke made misleading statements about her health in order to receive financial help from those closest to her. Prosecutors noted that supporters provided direct donations and organized fundraisers for what they thought were escalating medical expenses.
In April 2016, O’Rourke traveled to Australia, claiming she was undergoing an experimental treatment unavailable in the U.S. Instead, she utilized her time sightseeing, with no actual medical care taking place, as per federal authorities.
Reports indicate that she continued this alleged scheme even after returning to the U.S., prompting friends and family to hold more fundraising events on her behalf.
Supporters gathered funds for O’Rourke’s supposed ongoing struggle with cancer, including an online donation page and a fundraiser held at a restaurant in Pennsylvania.
Federal prosecutors assert that money raised during these events was later used for another trip to Australia in 2016, where she reportedly engaged in leisure activities instead of undergoing treatment for an illness investigators claim was nonexistent.
This alleged scam eventually drew the attention of federal investigators.
On May 3, 2018, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indicted O’Rourke on 15 counts of wire fraud. A federal arrest warrant has been issued, and she remains at large.
O’Rourke’s case is among several prominent “fake cancer” scams that have surfaced in recent years, where scammers are said to exploit compassion, online fundraising platforms, and emotional support networks for financial gain.
Numerous cases have emerged recently, with women both in the U.S. and abroad facing charges or convictions for fabricating terminal illnesses while raising money through various means such as crowdfunding and community events.
One particularly notable case involves Amanda Riley from California, who became the focus of the podcast Scamanda and an ABC documentary series after admitting to lying about having cancer for years while pocketing over $100,000 from donors.
As in those instances, prosecutors argue that O’Rourke’s scheme relied heavily on the trust and empathy of her friends, family, and supporters who genuinely believed they were aiding someone in a life-threatening situation.
Authorities and fraud specialists caution that emotionally charged healthcare scams can be alarmingly effective, particularly when they prey on tight-knit communities rallying to support someone they think is in a life-or-death battle.
The FBI is urging anyone with tips regarding O’Rourke’s location to reach out to law enforcement.
