Montco Native Faked Cancer Diagnosis In GoFundMe Scam: Feds

HARLEYSVILLE, PA — A former resident of Harleysville has been charged after faking a cancer diagnosis in order to make more than $11,000 in online donations, authorities announced Tuesday in an unsealed indictment.

Vanessa O'Rourke, 32, used the money raised from the donations for a variety of leisure activities and ultimately to flee to Australia, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. She faces charges of wire fraud.

“The allegations in this case are nauseating,” U.S. Attorney William McSwain said in a statement announcing the indictment.

The fraud began around Oct. 2015, when O'Rourke created a GoFundMe page claiming to have a terminal form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, authorities said.

She said that she needed to raise money in order to travel to Australia to receive experimental treatment. The fundraiser claimed that she had been through all available treatments in the United States, and that while a first round of treatment successfully targeted her tumor, and she was struggling to afford round two.

More than 140 donated a total of $11,470 to the cause, including friends and family, the indictment claims. There was also a benefit dinner held at the Whitpain Tavern in Blue Bell, where participants paid $20 to attend and proceeds went towards her cause.

The page was operational and taking in money through July 2016, the indictment says.

While living in Queensland, Australia, feds said that O'Rourke used the money for a variety of leisure activities and other personal, non-medically related expenses. Queensland is her last known residence.

The FBI and Towamencin Police worked together on the investigation of the case, and it's being prosecuted by US Attorney Kevin Jayne.

The status of O'Rourke's extradition remains unclear.