FBI sanctions listing
VANESSA O'ROURKE
VANESSA O'ROURKE is an individual designated on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation — Wanted (FBI) sanctions list under the White-Collar Crime programme, listed on 2020-10-13. White-Collar Crime. This page summarises the public designation — known aliases, identifying particulars, the stated reason for listing and linked parties — alongside an independent, transparent risk indicator.
Reason for listing
Wire Fraud (Fifteen Counts) Vanessa O’Rourke is wanted for allegedly fraudulently representing to her family and friends that she had been diagnosed with a terminal form of brain cancer known as a glioblastoma, and told them she needed money to aid in her medical treatment and to support her while she was ill. Between October of 2015 and July of 2016, O'Rourke further represented to family and friends that she needed to travel to Australia to participate in an experimental treatment for her purported cancer. Through her false and fraudulent pretenses, her family and others provided money and support. In or around April of 2016, O'Rourke traveled to Australia, where she engaged in a variety of leisure activities and did not receive any medical treatment. Upon her return to the United States, O'Rourke enlisted her friends and family to organize two fundraisers on her behalf. A webpage was established and a benefit event held at a local restaurant in Pennsylvania, both resulting in numerous people providing donations for her purported cancer treatment. O'Rourke utilized those funds to travel to Australia again in or around 2016, where she again engaged in various leisure activities and received no medical treatment for her nonexistent illness. O'Rourke was indicted on 15 counts of wire fraud in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on May 3, 2018, and a federal warrant was issued for her arrest.
Statement of reasons as published by US FBI. This is the issuing authority's wording, reproduced for reference.
Designation record
| List / authority | US FBI (FBI) — FBI — White-Collar Crime |
|---|---|
| Entity type | Person |
| Programmes / regime | White-Collar Crime |
| Date listed | 2020-10-13 |
| Source record ID | fbi:341de1cfaa774a158f1ea78815e76d30 |
| Last updated (our copy) | 2026-06-04 |
Identity & particulars
| Position / role | White-Collar Crime |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | July 14, 1988 |
| Gender | Female |
Known aliases (2)
Deep-research dossier
Not yet deep-researched
The instant review above is drawn from the public lists. A deep-research dossier goes much further — an analyst-grade OSINT report: associate & co-investment network screening, structural / ownership opacity, a dated risk trajectory, an 8-factor scoring model, and numbered, source-linked evidence. See the format in the design system.
Clarifications & right of reply
Are you VANESSA O'ROURKE, or an authorised representative?
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Source & provenance
| Issuing authority | U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation — Wanted |
|---|---|
| Source identifier | fbi:341de1cfaa774a158f1ea78815e76d30 |
| Aggregated by | Sanctiometer (independent) — verify against the issuing authority's official list before acting. |