1. It's a story about some significant wrongdoing
wrongdoing: illegal or dishonest behaviour. Sp. delito, ofensa, crimen. E.g. The company denies any wrongdoing. The police will discipline anybody who is guilty of wrongdoing.
What can it be?
2. It involves a bevy of cunning crooks
bevy: /ˈbevi/ a large group of people or things of the same kind. E.g. a bevy of beauties (= beautiful young women). A bevy of movie stars arrived at the White House.
cunning: able to get what you want in a clever way, especially by tricking or cheating somebody. Sp. astuto, malicioso, engañoso. E.g. a cunning liar. He was as cunning as a fox. That cunning old rogue is up to something, I'm sure.
crook: a dishonest person. Criminal. E.g. That salesman is a real crook. The film portrays a world of small-time crooks, petty crime and drinking clubs.
What might these shady characters have done?
shady: seeming to be dishonest or illegal. E.g. a shady businessman/deal. A shady character.
3. More specifically it is about unscrupulous sharks.
unscrupulous: /ʌnˈskruːpjələs/ without moral principles; not honest or fair. Unprincipled. E.g.
unscrupulous methods In his desire for power, he has become completely unscrupulous. The new law will give unscrupulous landlords an easy way of getting rid of people.
Shark: a person who is dishonest in business, especially somebody who gives bad advice and gets people to pay too much for something. E.g. a loan shark. Watch out for Alan; he's a shark (Sp. estafador).
Why are the sharks unscrupulous?
4. There are also crafty touts prowling around the resorts involved
crafty: /ˈkrɑːfti/ clever at getting what you want, especially by indirect or dishonest methods. Sp. astuto. E.g. He's a crafty old devil. one of the party’s craftiest political strategists There are times when the only way to win is by a crafty reinterpretation of the rules. That was a crafty move/touch.
tout: /taʊt/ (N) 1. A person who buys up tickets for an event to resell them at a profit. 2. A person soliciting custom (Sp. Clientela) or business, typically in a direct or persistent manner. E.g. It is difficult for a visitor to walk down the street without attracting the relentless attention of touts and hustlers (tricksters/ prostitutes) wanting to sell you something, anything - a bauble, a sob story, a woman.’
prowl (+ adv./prep.) | prowl something /praʊl/ to move quietly and carefully around an area, especially with the intention of committing a crime. E.g. A man was seen prowling around outside the factory just before the fire started.
What are the marauding touts trying to sell?
marauding: /məˈrɔːdɪŋ/ (of people or animals) going around a place in search of things to steal or people to attack. E.g. marauding wolves. Gangs of marauding youths filled the streets.
5. And there are a great many wily claimants implicated as well
a great many: an extremely large number (of persons or things). Many. E.g. There were a great many jokes about the disaster
wily: /ˈwaɪli/ clever at getting what you want, and willing to trick people. Sp. astuto. E.g.
The boss is a wily old fox. He was outwitted by his wily opponent.
claimant: a person who claims something because they believe they have a right to it. Sp. demandante. E.g. a claimant to the throne.
implicate somebody (in something) to show or suggest that somebody is involved in something bad or criminal. E.g. He tried to avoid saying anything that would implicate him further.
What do the claimants want?
6. We are talking about an astronomical amount of money. Shedloads!
astronomical: if you describe an amount, especially the cost of something as astronomical, you are emphasizing that it is very large indeed. E.g. Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices. The cost will be astronomical.
Shedload/ˈʃedləʊd/ shedload (of something) (British English, informal) a large amount of something, especially money. E.g. The project cost a shedload of money. This should save you shedloads.
Why is so much money involved?
7. There are some existing legal loopholes that make the scam posssible
loophole (in something) /ˈluːphəʊl/ a mistake in the way a law, contract, etc. has been written which enables people to legally avoid doing something that the law, contract, etc. had intended them to do. E.g. a legal loophole (Sp. vacío legal). to close existing loopholes. every law has a loophole (Sp. hecha la ley, hecha la trampa).
scam: a clever and dishonest plan for making money an insurance scam.
What might this dodgy business consist of?
dodgy: /ˈdɒdʒi/ seeming or likely to be dishonest. Suspicious. E.g. He made a lot of money, using some very dodgy methods. I don't want to get involved in anything dodgy. Travel websites that offer dodgy deals have been uncovered in a worldwide investigation.
8. The judge said their claims had been a "complete and utter sham".
sham: /ʃæm/
1. a situation, feeling, system, etc. that is not as good or true as it seems to be. E.g. The latest crime figures are a complete sham. She felt trapped in a sham of a marriage.
2. a person who pretends to be something that they are not. E.g. The article exposes him for the sham that he really is.
3. behaviour, feelings, words, etc. that are intended to make somebody/something seem to be better than they really are. E.g. Their promises turned out to be full of sham and hypocrisy. His intellectual pretensions are all sham.
What will the judge decide?
What can the bogus claims be?
Bogus: /ˈbəʊɡəs/ pretending to be real or genuine. False. E.g. a bogus doctor/contract. Bogus claims of injury by workers.
The trade body for travel agents warns that some package holiday destinations will disappear unless the growing industry for compensation claims over holiday sickness is curbed.
Listen to the programme
Related stories:
British Couple Jailed
Couple Jailed after Making Fake Holiday Sickness Claims
ITV News
The Mirror
The Independent
The Telegraph:
Stomach (0) __________ (UP) on Holiday.
Fake food (1)___________(POISON) claims could see British (2)________(MAKE) banned from (3)___________(INCLUDE) resorts
(4)___________(PACK) holidays could soar in price because of a surge in (5)____________(FRAUD) insurance claims against resorts, a trade body has claimed.
Experts are warning a (6)__________ (GROW) (7)___________(EPIDEMIOLOGIST) of travel (8)____________(SICK) fraud has become the new bogus (9)____________(WHIP) injury claims, which pose the biggest threat the travel industry has seen in years.
The surge in fake cases could lead to British holiday makers being banned from Spanish resorts, according to Abta warnings.
Over the past four years a number of claims firms have (10)____________(SPRING) up in popular (11)_____________ (DESTINED), encouraging UK tourists to sue hotels for fake claims.
According to ABTA, which represents travel firms, travel bosses have been left "(12)___________(EMBARRASSMENT)" by the huge number of claims, which they describe as "a British problem".
ABTA warned that (13)____________(BRITISH) risked being banned from resorts all together over the issue, and warned there could also be a risk that hotels could push up prices to make up for money lost through (14)________________(INGENUOUS) claims.
Since 2013 claims through firms have increased by 500 per
cent with tens of thousands of claims being made, despite the number of cases reported directly to hotels remaining stable.
The average claim is for around £2,000 and as there is no limit on the fees claims firms can take from (15)_______________(OUT), they typically pay themselves large percentages of up to 40pc.
The average claim is for around £2,000 and as there is no limit on the fees claims firms can take from (15)_______________(OUT), they typically pay themselves large percentages of up to 40pc.
It is thought that (16)______________(GREED) firms moved
abroad where they can charge (17)____________(LIMIT) fees for handling
fake sick claims.
According to Abta claims sharks tout on the streets outside hotels. Most cases involve all-inclusive resorts as (18)_____________(CLAIM) say they only ate at their hotel in a bid to identify the cause of their stomach upset.
Today Abta is calling on the Government to close the "legal (19)______________(HOLE)" which it says is encouraging the trend.
Tour operator giants Thompson and First Choice have already said such customers who cash in on fake claims abroad will be banned from travelling with them in the future.
"This would allow people with genuine claims access to
justice but make this area less attractive to claims firms. Travellers need to know that whatever a claims firm might say, fake
claims are fraud."
Emy Anagnostopoulou, Director Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) UK & Ireland Office, added: “The Greek Tourism Organisation is strongly committed to supporting Abta in all matters that help to protect the British public and travellers.
We are proud to offer our (21)_____________(COURAGE) towards their efforts to raise and maintain the industry’s standards with regards to fake holiday claims. This is an important issue for Greek tourism and Greek hoteliers.”
A Ministry of Justice (22)_____________(PERSON) said: “We are committed to tackling all bogus claims and the Claims Management Regulator has taken (23)____________(SIGNIFY) steps in this area. We have tough sanctions for firms that break the rules and if any (24)_____________(DO) is discovered, we will take the necessary action. We are (25)______________(LIAISON) with the Association of British Travel Agents and other industry (26)_____________(REPRESENT) to understand the (27)______________(LIE) problems and identify the most appropriate and effective response".
KEY
0. upsets
upset: an illness in the stomach that makes you feel sick or have diarrhoea. E.g. a stomach upset
1. poisoning
2. holidaymakers
3. all-inclusive
4. package
package holiday: (also package tour /ˈpækɪdʒ tʊə(r)/) a holiday/vacation that is organized by a company at a fixed price and that includes the cost of travel, hotels, etc.
5. fraudulent /ˈfrɔːdjələnt/ intended to cheat somebody, usually in order to make money illegally. E.g. fraudulent advertising. Fraudulent insurance claims.
6. growing
7. epidemic /ˌepɪˈdemɪk/
8. sickness
9. whiplash
whiplash injury: /ˈwɪplæʃ ɪndʒəri/ a neck injury caused when your head moves forward and back suddenly, especially in a car accident. Sp. latigazo/ traumatismo cervical. E.g. He suffered whiplash injuries in the crash.
Bogus: /ˈbəʊɡəs/ pretending to be real or genuine. False. E.g. a bogus doctor/contract. Bogus claims of injury by workers.
10. sprung
14. disingenuous /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒenjuəs/
Shark: a person who is dishonest in business, especially somebody who gives bad advice and gets people to pay too much for something. E.g. a loan shark. Watch out for Alan; he's a shark (Sp. estafador).
tout: (V) /taʊt/
to try to persuade people to buy your goods or services, especially by going to them and asking them directly. E.g. tout (for something) the problem of unlicensed taxi drivers touting for business at airports. tout something He's busy touting his client's latest book around London publishers.
According to Abta claims sharks tout on the streets outside hotels. Most cases involve all-inclusive resorts as (18)_____________(CLAIM) say they only ate at their hotel in a bid to identify the cause of their stomach upset.
Today Abta is calling on the Government to close the "legal (19)______________(HOLE)" which it says is encouraging the trend.
Tour operator giants Thompson and First Choice have already said such customers who cash in on fake claims abroad will be banned from travelling with them in the future.
Mark
Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “The Government must urgently
address this issue. The firms which (20)______________(DUE)
profit from these claims must be closed."
Emy Anagnostopoulou, Director Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) UK & Ireland Office, added: “The Greek Tourism Organisation is strongly committed to supporting Abta in all matters that help to protect the British public and travellers.
We are proud to offer our (21)_____________(COURAGE) towards their efforts to raise and maintain the industry’s standards with regards to fake holiday claims. This is an important issue for Greek tourism and Greek hoteliers.”
A Ministry of Justice (22)_____________(PERSON) said: “We are committed to tackling all bogus claims and the Claims Management Regulator has taken (23)____________(SIGNIFY) steps in this area. We have tough sanctions for firms that break the rules and if any (24)_____________(DO) is discovered, we will take the necessary action. We are (25)______________(LIAISON) with the Association of British Travel Agents and other industry (26)_____________(REPRESENT) to understand the (27)______________(LIE) problems and identify the most appropriate and effective response".
KEY
0. upsets
upset: an illness in the stomach that makes you feel sick or have diarrhoea. E.g. a stomach upset
1. poisoning
2. holidaymakers
3. all-inclusive
4. package
package holiday: (also package tour /ˈpækɪdʒ tʊə(r)/) a holiday/vacation that is organized by a company at a fixed price and that includes the cost of travel, hotels, etc.
5. fraudulent /ˈfrɔːdjələnt/ intended to cheat somebody, usually in order to make money illegally. E.g. fraudulent advertising. Fraudulent insurance claims.
6. growing
7. epidemic /ˌepɪˈdemɪk/
8. sickness
9. whiplash
whiplash injury: /ˈwɪplæʃ ɪndʒəri/ a neck injury caused when your head moves forward and back suddenly, especially in a car accident. Sp. latigazo/ traumatismo cervical. E.g. He suffered whiplash injuries in the crash.
Bogus: /ˈbəʊɡəs/ pretending to be real or genuine. False. E.g. a bogus doctor/contract. Bogus claims of injury by workers.
10. sprung
spring up: to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly. E.g. Play areas for children are springing up all over the place. Opposition groups are springing up like mushrooms.
11. destinations
12. embarrassed
embarrassment: /ɪmˈbærəsmənt/
embarrassed: /ɪmˈbærəst/
13. Brits
14. disingenuous /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒenjuəs/
(of a person or their behaviour) slightly dishonest, or not speaking the complete truth. Not sincere, especially when you pretend to know less about something than you really do. Sp. falso, poco sincero. E.g. It would be disingenuous of me to claim I had never seen it. My English teacher is known for her disingenuous comments on students' essays. It was disingenuous of her to claim she had no financial interest in the case. This journalist was being somewhat disingenuous
as well as cynical.
ingenuous: /ɪnˈdʒenjuəs/ honest, innocent and willing to trust people. E.g. You're too ingenuous. an ingenuous smile. It is ingenuous to suppose that money did not play a part in his decision.
15. payouts
payout: a large amount of money that is given to somebody. E.g. an insurance payout (Sp. indemnización). a lottery payout (Sp. premio).
16. greedy
17. unlimited
Shark: a person who is dishonest in business, especially somebody who gives bad advice and gets people to pay too much for something. E.g. a loan shark. Watch out for Alan; he's a shark (Sp. estafador).
tout: (V) /taʊt/
to try to persuade people to buy your goods or services, especially by going to them and asking them directly. E.g. tout (for something) the problem of unlicensed taxi drivers touting for business at airports. tout something He's busy touting his client's latest book around London publishers.
tout: /taʊt/ (N) 1. A person who buys up tickets for an event to resell them at a
profit. 2. A person soliciting custom (Sp. Clientela) or business, typically in
a direct or persistent manner. E.g. It is difficult for a visitor to walk down the
street without attracting the relentless attention of touts and hustlers
(tricksters/ prostitutes) wanting to sell you something, anything - a bauble, a
sob story, a woman.’
18. claimants
claimant: a person who claims something because they believe they have a right to it. Sp. demandante. E.g. a claimant to the throne.
bid: (N)(used especially in newspapers) an effort to do something or to obtain something. E.g. bid for something a bid for power. bid to do something a desperate bid to escape from his attackers.
19. loophole
/ˈluːphəʊl/ loophole (in something) a mistake in the way a law, contract, etc. has been written which enables people to legally avoid doing something that the law, contract, etc. had intended them to do. E.g. a legal loophole (Sp. vacío legal). to close existing loopholes. every law has a loophole (Sp. hecha la ley, hecha la trampa).
20. unduly
unduly: /ˌʌnˈdjuːli/ more than you think is reasonable or necessary. Without due moderation; improperly, unsuitably. Excessively. E.g. The children's father is unduly lenient with them; they need more discipline. He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect. The levels of pollution in this area are unduly high. The thought did not disturb her unduly. The sentence was criticized as being unduly lenient.
21. encouragement
22. spokesperson
spokesperson (for somebody/something) a person who speaks on behalf of a group or an organization. Sp. portavoz. E.g. Each team must designate one spokesperson.
23. significant
significant: large or important enough to have an effect or to be noticed. E.g. a highly significant discovery.
24. wrongdoing: illegal or dishonest behaviour. Sp. delito, ofensa, crimen. E.g. The company denies any wrongdoing. The police will discipline anybody who is guilty of wrongdoing.
25. liaising
liaise: /liˈeɪz/ liaise (with somebody) (especially British English) to work closely with somebody and exchange information with them. E.g. He had to liaise directly with the police while writing the report. The tax office liaises closely with our department on such matters.
liaison (between A and B) /liˈeɪzn/ a relationship between two organizations or different departments in an organization, involving the exchange of information or ideas. E.g. Our role is to ensure liaison between schools and parents. We work in close liaison with the police.
26. representatives
27. underlying: important in a situation but not always easily noticed or stated clearly. Sp. subyacente, de fondo. E.g. The underlying assumption is that the amount of money available is limited. Unemployment may be an underlying cause of the rising crime rate. the underlying problem is that ...
18. claimants
claimant: a person who claims something because they believe they have a right to it. Sp. demandante. E.g. a claimant to the throne.
bid: (N)(used especially in newspapers) an effort to do something or to obtain something. E.g. bid for something a bid for power. bid to do something a desperate bid to escape from his attackers.
19. loophole
/ˈluːphəʊl/ loophole (in something) a mistake in the way a law, contract, etc. has been written which enables people to legally avoid doing something that the law, contract, etc. had intended them to do. E.g. a legal loophole (Sp. vacío legal). to close existing loopholes. every law has a loophole (Sp. hecha la ley, hecha la trampa).
20. unduly
unduly: /ˌʌnˈdjuːli/ more than you think is reasonable or necessary. Without due moderation; improperly, unsuitably. Excessively. E.g. The children's father is unduly lenient with them; they need more discipline. He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect. The levels of pollution in this area are unduly high. The thought did not disturb her unduly. The sentence was criticized as being unduly lenient.
21. encouragement
22. spokesperson
spokesperson (for somebody/something) a person who speaks on behalf of a group or an organization. Sp. portavoz. E.g. Each team must designate one spokesperson.
23. significant
significant: large or important enough to have an effect or to be noticed. E.g. a highly significant discovery.
24. wrongdoing: illegal or dishonest behaviour. Sp. delito, ofensa, crimen. E.g. The company denies any wrongdoing. The police will discipline anybody who is guilty of wrongdoing.
25. liaising
liaise: /liˈeɪz/ liaise (with somebody) (especially British English) to work closely with somebody and exchange information with them. E.g. He had to liaise directly with the police while writing the report. The tax office liaises closely with our department on such matters.
liaison (between A and B) /liˈeɪzn/ a relationship between two organizations or different departments in an organization, involving the exchange of information or ideas. E.g. Our role is to ensure liaison between schools and parents. We work in close liaison with the police.
26. representatives
27. underlying: important in a situation but not always easily noticed or stated clearly. Sp. subyacente, de fondo. E.g. The underlying assumption is that the amount of money available is limited. Unemployment may be an underlying cause of the rising crime rate. the underlying problem is that ...
Bauble: /ˈbɔːbl/ 1. a piece of jewellery that is cheap and has little
artistic value. E.g. It was a
$50 000 antique diamond ring—not a mere ‘bauble’ as the judge said.
2. a decoration for a Christmas
tree in the shape of a ball.
Sob story: a story that somebody tells
you just to make you feel sorry for them, especially one that does not have that
effect or is not true.
landmark (in something) an event, a discovery, an invention, etc. that marks an important stage in something. E.g. The ceasefire was seen as a major landmark in the fight against terrorism. a landmark decision/ruling (decision that sets legal precedent) Sp. jurisprudenciain. A landmark hearing.
Brit couple jailed for holiday in Spain fake food poisoning claimlandmark (in something) an event, a discovery, an invention, etc. that marks an important stage in something. E.g. The ceasefire was seen as a major landmark in the fight against terrorism. a landmark decision/ruling (decision that sets legal precedent) Sp. jurisprudenciain. A landmark hearing.
A BRITISH couple who submitted a fake food poisoning claim after enjoying Thomas Cook holidays in Mallorca have been jailed.
Deborah Briton, aged 53, and her partner Paul Roberts, 43, tried to claim almost £20,000 for the fake gastric illnesses and it would have also cost the holiday firm £28,000 in legal expenses had their claim been successful.
Briton was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting four counts of fraud in the private prosecution, brought by holiday company Thomas Cook.
Roberts was sentenced to 15 months after admitting the same offences.
Prosecutor Sam Brown said the couple had holidayed at the Globales America hotel in Mallorca with their two children in 2015 and 2016.
But Liverpool Crown Court heard that they were caught out after posting on social media that they were ‘Safely home after two weeks of sun, laughter, fun and tears. Met up with all our lovely holiday friends who made our holiday fab.
Sentencing, Judge David Aubrey QC said their claims had been a "complete and utter sham".
He said: "They were bogus from start to finish, you were both asserting on your behalfs and on behalf of your two children that on two separate holidays you had suffered illness.
"They were totally and utterly fake."
He said the claims must have required planning and premeditation.
"Why? Pure greed. Seeking to get something for nothing."
The judge also warned that any others bringing similar false claims in the future must expect to also face a jail term.
A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "The sentences handed down today demonstrates how serious the issue of fraudulent illness claims has become.
"This is a particularly sobering case but reflects what is going on across the UK travel industry, so we had to take a stand to protect our holidays and our customers from the minority who cheat the system."
The Foreign secretary has previously spoken on the scandal, saying "These claims make it more expensive for Brits to go abroad. They should not have to shoulder the inevitable rising costs of bogus accusations made by a small minority."
sham: /ʃæm/
1. a situation, feeling, system, etc. that is not as good or true as it seems to be. E.g. The latest crime figures are a complete sham. She felt trapped in a sham of a marriage.
2. a person who pretends to be something that they are not. E.g. The article exposes him for the sham that he really is.
3. behaviour, feelings, words, etc. that are intended to make somebody/something seem to be better than they really are. E.g. Their promises turned out to be full of sham and hypocrisy. His intellectual pretensions are all sham.
on behalf of somebody, on somebody’s behalf:
1. as the representative of somebody or instead of them. E.g. On behalf of the department I would like to thank you all. Mr Knight cannot be here, so his wife will accept the prize on his behalf.
2. in order to help somebody. E.g. They campaigned on behalf of asylum seekers.
3. because of somebody; for somebody. E.g. Don't worry on my behalf.
sobering: /ˈsəʊbərɪŋ/ making you feel serious and think carefully. E.g. a sobering effect/experience/thought, etc. It is sobering to realize that this is not a new problem. This is a particularly sobering case.
shoulder something: to accept the responsibility for something. E.g. to shoulder the responsibility/blame for something. Women who shoulder the double burden of childcare and full-time work.
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