Russian scam: Customers fake salmonella poisoning for cash payout

Customers of a grocery store in Russia came up with a bizarre idea to fraudulently obtain compensation for alleged salmonella poisoning. This infamous method could end disastrously for the fraudsters' health, as they want to gain the equivalent of about USD 9,300.

The grocery store owner in Yekaterinburg, Russia, decided to protect his business's good name. When it turned out that eighteen customers who bought eggs from him got food poisoning from salmonella, he immediately declared his readiness to pay each of them one million rubles (over USD 9,300) in compensation.

The problem is that the promise quickly became an opportunity for individuals not necessarily affected by this dangerous ailment. When more "sick" individuals, claiming to be victims, approached him, he contemplated critically. He straightforwardly stated that it most likely had to do with his generosity.

In Russian media, he admitted that the initiative to provide compensation was "idiotic." He appealed to the residents of Yekaterinburg not to forcefully attempt to poison themselves and to avoid actions that could be harmful to their health (e.g., licking chicken eggs). Beating his chest, Ivan Zaitchenko suggested that the prospect of quick profit had clouded their common sense.

Statament in mk.ru suggests that people complain about everything: about the food that was cooked a few days ago in factories that have already been checked and all analyses are within the norm, as well as the food that was eaten in April.

Salmonella poisoning can have serious consequences. Infected individuals may suffer from general weakness, frequent vomiting, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal issues. At that point, their body temperature can reach up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

In extreme cases, salmonella can also cause a rash on the abdomen and chest, meningitis, and soft tissue infection. These symptoms last from a few days to a week.