By David Young-
A 50-year-old Lithuanian man has been arrested in Spain after a string of fake heart attacks at over 20 restaurants across the country.
The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, is believed to have scammed a series of eateries, primarily in Spain’s Costa Blanca region, using dramatic theatrics to simulate a heart attack and avoid settling his bill.
The Eye Of Media.Com was today informed about this grand scammer, as restaurant owners began collaborating to put an end to his recurring routine.
The scam artist’s modus operandi was deceptively simple. After ordering food and drinks, he would launch into a theatrical performance, clutching his chest and dramatically collapsing onto the floor as if he were suffering a cardiac emergency.
The scam worked effectively for the fraudster,(pictured) enabling him to evade payment repeatedly.
However, it all fell apart when one astute restaurant owner saw through the act and took action to alert other local restaurants to be cautious of the heart-attack routine.
The incident that led to the man’s arrest took place at El Buen Comer, a restaurant in Alicante, where he enjoyed a seafood paella and a couple of whiskey shots.
Following his meal, when the waiter presented him with the bill of 34.85 euros ($37), he attempted to exit the establishment without settling his dues.
However, he was promptly intercepted and informed that he still had a bill to cover. In response to this, the scammer claimed he needed to retrieve the money from his hotel room, but restaurant staff refused to allow him to leave.
Faced with this predicament, he resorted to feigning a heart attack as an attempt to escape payment.
The manager of El Buen Comer recalled the incident, describing the man’s performance, saying, “It was very theatrical; he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor. We have sent his photo around to all the restaurants to try and stop him from striking again.”
What the scammer did not anticipate was that the restaurant staff at El Buen Comer were not duped by his theatrics.
Instead of summoning an ambulance, they contacted the police. As officers arrived at the scene, the feignedly ill man called for medical assistance.
However, the policemen had already recognized him from previous encounters at other restaurants in Alicante.
Reports in the Spanish media suggest that the 50-year-old man had become infamous among restaurant owners in Costa Blanca.
He was first identified in Alicante in November 2022, and since then, he has gained notoriety for his heart attack ruse. Although he frequently manages to evade paying his bills, he appears unperturbed when the police get involved.
In fact, he smiles when encountering them, perhaps because he knows that there is little they can do to prevent his repeated escapades. He doesn’t mind spending a night or two in jail before resuming his scamming routine.
Despite the ongoing parade of deceptive acts at restaurants, the scammer’s most significant challenge may lie ahead. Since the bills he typically tries to avoid paying are relatively modest, his offenses are categorized as minor, and the penalties are generally not severe.
Most of the time, he spends just one night behind bars, seemingly untroubled by the consequence.
A coalition of restaurant owners is planning to join forces and file a collective complaint, which could lead to the man receiving a sentence of up to two years in prison.
While this particular case has captured widespread attention, it is not the first time someone has attempted to deceive restaurant owners using elaborate schemes.
Across the world, various individuals have been caught attempting to dine and dash, albeit in less flamboyant ways.
These incidents underline the importance of vigilance by restaurant staff and the potential risks posed by those looking to exploit the hospitality industry.
It is the hope of restaurant owners in Costa Blanca that their united effort will finally put an end to this peculiar string of fake heart attacks and unpaid bills.