The FBI has placed Vanessa O'Rourke, a 37-year-old former medical student, on its most wanted list after she allegedly faked a terminal brain cancer diagnosis to collect more than $11,000 in online donations—funds she instead used for a holiday in Australia. O'Rourke, who was studying to become a brain surgeon at Temple Med in Philadelphia, told family and friends in 2015 that she had been diagnosed with glioblastoma and needed to travel to Australia for experimental treatment, according to an FBI release. Instead, prosecutors say she spent the money on leisure activities and made a second trip Down Under using proceeds from a benefit event her relatives organized.

How a $20-a-head benefit bankrolled a second Australia trip

According to the FBI and court documents, O'Rourke raised $11,740 from more than 140 people through GoFundMe and a family-organized benefit dinner that charged $20 per entry. After returning from her first alleged scam-funded vacation in April 2016, she persuaded relatives to launch a fundraising page and hold the benefit—then used the fresh funds to travel to Australia again later that year, investigators said. The case, which was first brought in 2018, has now landed O'Rourke on the FBI's most wanted list with an international arrest warrant.

15 wire-fraud counts and a fugitive six years on

O'Rourke was indicted on 15 counts of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on May 3, 2018.. William McSwain, then U.S. Attorney for the district, called the allegations 'nauseating,' saying O'Rourke 'preyed upon the kindness and generosity of good people who wished to help those in need.' Despite an international arrest warrant, investigators have been unable to locate her. The FBI now believes she may be residing in Queensland, Australia, according to the agency's August 2024 statement.

The 'Scamanda' echo: A string of online cancer fraudsters

O'Rourke is the latest in a series of high-profile fake-cancer scammers who have exploited crowdfunding platforms, as the source report notes. Amanda Christine Riley, 37,was sentenced to five years in prison in May 2022 after collecting more than $100,000 by pretending to have Hodgkin's lymphoma—she shaved her head and forged medical records to maintain the ruse.. Riley's case inspired the hit 'Scamanda' podcast and ABC docuseries. Madison Russo, a 20-year-old Iowa college student, was spared jail in June 2023 after falsely documenting a cancer battle on social media. The pattern reveals how easily online fundraising can be weaponized by individuals willing to exploit trust for personal gain.

Where is Vanessa O'Rourke now?

One of the key unanswered questions in this case is the fugitive's current whereabouts.. The FBI has not confirmed recent sightings or leads since issuing the international warrant. O'Rourke's last known location was in Queensland, but local newspapers that covered her 2016 fundraiser have not reported fresh developments . It also remains unclear whether any of the $11,740 was ever recovered or if additional contributors have come forward. The source report does not indicate whether O'Rourke has legal representation or has commented on the charges.