British YouTuber fakes his death to get Rs 4,300 refund from airline. But...

India Today

03-07-2025

In one of the most bizarre refund heists the internet has seen, a British YouTuber staged his own funeral and was officially declared "dead' in a bid to reclaim 37.28 GBP (approximately Rs 4,300) from an airline.Max Fosh documented the stunt in a video titled 'I Technically Died' that has garnered over 18 lakh views so far.'I am hosting my own funeral because I mean to be technically dead to get back at an airline. Two months ago, I booked a flight I couldn't board. When I asked for a refund, I found a cheeky little clause airlines use that many people fall for,' Fosh said in the video.advertisement
Then, Fosh jetted off to the Principality of Seborga, a self-declared micronation in northern Italy, after discovering a clause in the airline's policy: refunds are only granted in the event of a passenger's death.'Airlines will only provide cash refunds if passengers are dead. So, I needed to die. This is the story of how I travelled to another country, and held my own funeral and was legally declared dead all to get back 37.28 GBP (Rs 4,300, approximately) from the big bad airline,' he said.Seborga's head of state, Princess Nina Menegatto, was seemingly sympathetic to Fosh's cause and issued a one-time death certificate declaring him 'officially dead' on behalf of the principality. To complete the illusion, the YouTuber even hired mourners and hosted his own funeral.Although the video was comedic in tone, it carried a clear message: "I've realised people have lost thousands of pounds because of these airlines.' Despite refraining from naming the airline, Fosh's commentary targeted industry-wide refund practices several customers find unfair.advertisement Meanwhile, after submitting the Seborgan death certificate, Fosh received a response from the airline agreeing to process the refund and requesting his bank details. But, just as he was about to cash in on his mission, his lawyer intervened.'It's not fraud, but it is fraudulent,' said the lawyer over the phone, warning him against proceeding.Fosh ultimately agreed, saying, 'He told me off and said that I mustn't claim the money,' concluding the video with a disclaimer to his audience: 'Please, please do not do this to yourself at home.'- Ends