Pretending To Die in a Canoe Accident to Claim Insurance | Fakes, Frauds & Scammers

How did a seemingly innocent photo expose one of the UK’s biggest cons?

This is the story of a British prison officer who drowned in a dramatic canoeing accident but then reappeared five years later after he walked himself into a police station.

VICE World News speaks to Fmr. Superintendent Tony Hutchinson and journalist David Leigh, who investigated one of Britain's most sensational scandals and tracked down a con artist couple who almost got away with the perfect crime.

---

In a series of candid interviews, we relive some of the most audacious scams and fraudulent stunts of our time from the mouths of the perpetrators themselves.

Whether it’s money, fame or simply an addiction to lying, we find out what motivated these tricksters and whether the highs, lows and ramifications were worth it in the end.

Watch more from this series:

I Went Undercover in a Scam Call Center -

The Fake Priest Accused of Swindling Millions -

How We Conned the British Press -

Click here to subscribe to VICE

About VICE:

The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.

Connect with VICE:

Check out our full video catalog

Videos, daily editorial and more

More videos from the VICE network

Click here to get the best of VICE daily

Like VICE on Facebook

Follow VICE on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

The VICE YouTube Network:

Motherboard

VICE Sports

#scam #vice #scam