Food poisoning scam couple caught out by Facebook snaps
“The costs are inevitably passed on to genuine people, while others who do suffer illness on their holidays have their claims met with scepticism.
“This offence encourages a tsunami of false claims. It may be that a custodial sentence will show the importance of your wrongdoing.”
The bodybuilding couple admitted fraud by false representation and will be sentenced later this month.
Tim Hunter, representing Tui, told the judge: “Both enjoyed a holiday at the Cornelia Golf Resort and Spa in July 2015 which passed without incident or complaint.
“Apparently, from social media, it appears both had a very enjoyable time.”
Days after returning home they posted 79 snaps on Facebook, boasting about their break and showing them guzzling drinks and dining on steak and sushi. The couple, from Derby, made their claim for damages in April 2016 detailing their sickness and including a doctor’s report.
“That claim was false,” Mr Hunter said.
Tui launched an investigation in conjunction with the resort but could find nothing to support the allegations. The company says the cost of dealing with the bogus claim from Roberts and Muzoka, who have one child together, is in the region of £50,000.
Nicola Hunter, for Muzoka, said she had become involved in the scam after speaking to a colleague and admitted it was an “exaggerated claim”.
Ms Hunter said Muzoka mentioned she had felt ill while on holiday and the friend advised her she could make a claim. Later she moved house and then had a baby and heard nothing about the claim for some time.
When she was eventually contacted about it she quickly dropped the case and was hit with a £600 bill from her “no win, no fee” solicitors.
Ms Hunter also described Tui’s investigation as “basic” saying they had only “checked on Facebook”. Recent figures show the number of Britons approached about making a compensation claim for being sick while on holiday is on the rise.
As many as 9.5 million people have been contacted by scammers, according to the Association Of British Travel Agents.
It said false claims were costing the industry tens of millions of pounds a year.