Restaurant workers in Alicante, Spain, say they watched the same scene unfold again and again. A 50 year old customer finished his meal, stood up, clutched his chest, and dramatically collapsed. Staff rushed to help, only to later learn it was an act to avoid paying the bill.
Local media identified the man as Aidas, an expat originally from Lithuania. For months, restaurant staff say he staged fake medical emergencies to escape payment. His unpaid meals ranged from 15 euros to 70 euros, according to reports shared by outlets including El País and European crime news site Caso Abierto.
A Routine Act That Became Infamous
Restaurant owners said his behavior became familiar. One manager described the performance as “very theatrical,” adding that Aidas often ordered full meals and drinks before pretending to faint. Staff said he sometimes ordered whiskey and Russian salad before staging the fall.
Eventually, one restaurant captured a photo of him during the act and circulated it among nearby businesses. Workers from multiple restaurants confirmed they received the warning. “We’ve all been told not to serve him anything,” one staff member said.
Police Intervention and Multiple Arrests
Authorities say the man carried out the scam for about two months, during which he never paid for his meals. Police arrested him at least 20 times, but each time he was released because each unpaid bill was classified as a minor offense.
In total, unpaid food and drink charges reached around 766 euros, or roughly 800 dollars. Spanish law enforcement eventually pursued steeper penalties after he failed to pay multiple fines tied to earlier arrests.
Short Jail Sentence Ends the Pattern
The case reached a turning point when a court ordered him to serve at least 22 days in jail for unpaid fines. Police say the sentence appears to have finally ended the pattern of staged emergencies and restaurant fraud.
Restaurant workers say they hope the sentence sends a message to others attempting similar tactics.
A Strange Case of Fraud
While dine-and-dash incidents are not new, legal experts note that staging a fake medical emergency adds complexity and strains public services. In several cases, paramedics were called, not realizing the situation was staged.
No injuries were reported during the incidents, but staff say the repeated emergencies caused confusion, delays, and frustration for both workers and medical responders.
For now, restaurant workers in Alicante say they can finally relax knowing the man behind the unusual fake heart attack scam has been stopped.