British Siblings Charged in £9.5M Majorca Hotel Scam

PALMA, Majorca — A British mother and her brother are among nine individuals charged in connection with a £9.5 million scam targeting hotels in Majorca, Spain. The alleged fraud involved encouraging tourists to fabricate food poisoning claims to claim compensation.

Laura Joyce, 42, from Essex, and her brother Marc Cameron are accused of leading the operation under the guise of a Spanish company, Elite Project Marketing SL. The siblings allegedly recruited five other Britons to persuade holidaymakers to participate in the scheme, which targeted all-inclusive hotels on the popular tourist island.

A court ruling in Majorca stated, “The gang specialised in obtaining the details of British tourists in all-inclusive hotels in Majorca, convincing them, through a form they themselves elaborated, to falsely claim they had been ill during their stay and claim compensation in the UK.”

Police estimate the scam cost three hotel groups approximately £9.5 million between 2016 and 2017. The accused face charges of fraud and membership in a criminal gang. Other individuals charged include Ryan Bridges, Simon Robert Flanagan, Tegan Jewel Sumerlee, Susan Amanda Lyle, Nicola Marie Sanderson, and Peter Carl Murphy.

Joyce, who was arrested in September 2017 while heavily pregnant, appeared in court in May 2018. Her lawyer, Gabriel Llado, claimed she confessed to providing holidaymakers’ contact details for payment but insisted it was part of a market research venture. Llado denied that Joyce or her associates encouraged tourists to falsify claims using chemist receipts.

Joyce, charged under her maiden name Cameron, denies involvement in the scam. Her lawyer stated she participated briefly and quit due to insufficient earnings.