ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ALSO ARRESTED TONIGHT. A PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN ACCUSED OF FAKING TERMINAL BRAIN CANCER TO SWINDLE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IS STILL ON THE RUN. YEARS AFTER BEING INDICTED ON FEDERAL FRAUD CHARGES. TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THREE PICTURES PUT OUT BY THE FBI RIGHT HERE. TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. THEY COULD BE THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, MAY BE SISTERS, BUT ALL THESE IDENTITIES TAKEN HERE, SAME WOMAN. THIS IS VANESSA O’ROURKE. INVESTIGATORS SAY O’ROURKE, WHILE LIVING IN HARLEYSVILLE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN 2015, FALSELY CLAIMED THAT SHE HAD GLIOBLASTOMA, A BRAIN CANCER, AND NEEDED MONEY FOR TREATMENT, LIVING EXPENSES AND EXPERIMENTAL CARE. IN AUSTRALIA. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALLEGE SHE USED THAT STORY TO PERSUADE LOVED ONES AND DONORS TO SEND HER SOME MONEY, INCLUDING NEARLY $12,000 RAISED THROUGH A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN FOR MORE THAN 140 PEOPLE. AUTHORITIES SAY SHE DID INDEED TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA BUT NEVER RECEIVED CANCER TREATMENT THERE, INSTEAD SPENDING THE DONATED MONEY ON PERSONAL EXPENSES. O’ROURKE WAS INDICTED IN MAY OF 2018 AND 15 COUNTS OF WIRE FRAUD IN FEDERAL COURT IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, AND A WARRANT REMAINS ACTIVE FOR HER ARREST, INVESTIGATORS SAID OVER THE WEEKEND SHE’S LIKELY STILL IN AUSTRALIA. THE CASE REMAI
Pennsylvania woman accused of faking brain cancer to steal thousands still at large
Updated: 8:22 PM EDT May 27, 2026
Vanessa O’Rourke, a Pennsylvania woman is accused of faking terminal brain cancer to swindle thousands of dollars from family, friends, and supporters, remains on the run years after being indicted on federal fraud charges. FBI releases photos of alleged aliasesThe FBI released three photos of O’Rourke, showing different identities she allegedly used. Investigators said O’Rourke, while living in Harleysville, Montgomery County, in 2015, falsely claimed she had glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, and needed money for treatment, living expenses, and experimental care in Australia.Authorities say donations were used for personal expensesFederal authorities allege O’Rourke used the fabricated story to persuade loved ones and donors to send money, including nearly $12,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign from more than 140 people. Authorities said O’Rourke did travel to Australia but never received cancer treatment there, instead spending the donated money on personal expenses. Federal charges still activeO’Rourke was indicted in May 2018 on 15 counts of wire fraud in federal court in eastern Pennsylvania. A warrant remains active for her arrest, and investigators said over the weekend that she is likely still in Australia. The case remains active, and authorities are asking anyone with information on O’Rourke’s whereabouts to come forward.
Vanessa O’Rourke, a Pennsylvania woman is accused of faking terminal brain cancer to swindle thousands of dollars from family, friends, and supporters, remains on the run years after being indicted on federal fraud charges.
FBI releases photos of alleged aliases
The FBI released three photos of O’Rourke, showing different identities she allegedly used. Investigators said O’Rourke, while living in Harleysville, Montgomery County, in 2015, falsely claimed she had glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, and needed money for treatment, living expenses, and experimental care in Australia.
Authorities say donations were used for personal expenses
Federal authorities allege O’Rourke used the fabricated story to persuade loved ones and donors to send money, including nearly $12,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign from more than 140 people.
Authorities said O’Rourke did travel to Australia but never received cancer treatment there, instead spending the donated money on personal expenses.
Federal charges still active
O’Rourke was indicted in May 2018 on 15 counts of wire fraud in federal court in eastern Pennsylvania. A warrant remains active for her arrest, and investigators said over the weekend that she is likely still in Australia.
The case remains active, and authorities are asking anyone with information on O’Rourke’s whereabouts to come forward.