BRITAIN was last night pinning its hopes on the next generation of fraudsters, after the latest failure to con a large financial institution with a fake death scam.
As John and Anne Darwin were jailed for six and a half years, millions of Briton were asking who would pick up the torch and finally succeed in quitting the rat race with a million pounds, a first class ticket and a false beard.
Tom Logan, an insurance fraud consultant, said: "The Darwin plan had a lot going for it. I loved the battered canoe and secret bedsit. And of course the choice of Panama was a classic.
"It's just a shame they were such a pair of complete of fucking idiots.
"But what they have done is provide a road map for the next generation of insurance fraudsters. It's a map that says 'do not go this way, it is the wrong way'."
Mr Logan said being lost at sea, or the jungle, remained the best starting point, though would-be fraudsters should now look for a country that is not 'pernickety' about visas, but still has a decent standard of living.
"I suspect Vietnam will be the new Panama of fake death scam hideouts."
He added: "Some say insurance fraud is a victimless crime but I say no – the victims are actually vast, soulless corporations that would gleefully sell you to Chinese pirates for 20p.
"There are victims, and they fucking deserve it."
