A 50-year-old man in Spain turned dining into a dramatic performance, faking heart attacks at over 20 restaurants to skip out on paying his bills. This bizarre restaurant scam unfolded in Alicante, where the Lithuanian national, known locally as Aidas J., left restaurant owners frustrated and out of pocket. His theatrical con, collapsing and clutching his chest after enjoying lavish meals, has landed him in serious legal trouble.
Aidas J., often posing as a wealthy Russian tourist, targeted eateries across Alicante’s Costa Blanca region. He would order expensive dishes like seafood paella, lobster, or entrecote, paired with high-end whiskeys, racking up bills between €15 and €70. Once the meal was done, he’d try to slip out. When confronted, he’d stage a heart attack, slumping to the floor and demanding medical help.
In some cases, restaurants called ambulances, only to later discover they’d been duped. One notable incident occurred at El Buen Comer, a popular Alicante restaurant. Aidas ordered seafood paella and two whiskeys, totaling €34.85. When asked to pay, he claimed he needed to grab money from his hotel but then collapsed in a dramatic faint.
Suspicious staff, already aware of his reputation, called the police instead of an ambulance. Officers recognized him instantly from his string of similar stunts. The restaurant scam, repeated at least 20 times a year, costs restaurants around €766 in unpaid bills. Beyond the financial hit, Aidas’s antics wasted emergency resources and sparked frustration among local business owners.
Word spread quickly, and managers began sharing his photo to warn others, dubbing him the “gastrojeta.” Thanks to these warnings, staff at Sale&Pepe, another Alicante restaurant, were already on alert. Aidas’s scheme wasn’t without consequences. Arrested multiple times, he often faced short detentions due to the small amount of each bill, which was classified as a minor crime. However, after failing to pay two fines, he was sentenced to 42 days in prison in September 2023.
Some restaurant owners are now considering a collective complaint, which could lead to a longer sentence, potentially up to two years. This bizarre dining fraud in Spain serves as a cautionary tale for restaurant owners everywhere.
