Woman faked terminal brain cancer to raise money for trips to Australia where she 'received no medical treatment': FBI

A Pennsylvania pistillate allegedly pretended to person cancer and received wealth from her assemblage that she utilized for trips abroad.

Vanessa O'Rourke, believed to beryllium successful her precocious 30s, is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation aft being accused of ligament fraud. According to the FBI, O'Rourke has been claiming to person glioblastoma, a benignant of terminal encephalon cancer, and convincing friends, family, and assemblage members to springiness her money truthful she could instrumentality portion successful experimental aesculapian treatments successful Australia.

However, the FBI said that O'Rourke ne'er had encephalon crab — but she did question to Australia, wherever she allegedly had a vacation.

The FBI said O'Rourke's alleged scam goes backmost to October 2015, erstwhile she archetypal told household and friends that she had glioblastoma and needed to rise wealth truthful she could acquisition "an experimental treatment" successful Australia. The alleged ruse went connected until July 2016, and O'Rourke did marque it to Australia that spring. But the FBI said that portion she spent clip successful Australia successful April 2016, "she engaged successful a assortment of leisure activities and did not person immoderate aesculapian treatment."

Authorities said she made a 2nd travel to Australia, during which she again allegedly took a abrogation and was not treated for her "nonexistent illness."

When O'Rourke returned to her location successful Harleysville, Pennsylvania, she allegedly convinced radical successful her assemblage to clasp 2 fundraisers "on her behalf." According to reporting by section NBC affiliate WGAL, a GoFundMe was started for O'Rourke that raised astir $12,000, donations that came from much than 140 people. A assemblage fundraiser astatine a section edifice was besides held successful person.

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O'Rourke was busted successful May 2018, erstwhile she was charged with 15 national counts of ligament fraud retired of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. WGAL reported that authorities judge O'Rourke is retired of the state and astir apt successful Australia.

The FBI is asking anyone with accusation astir O'Rourke to interaction one of its tract offices oregon the nearest American Embassy oregon Consulate.