YouTuber Fake His Own Death to Claim $50 Refund, Seriously?

LONDON- British YouTuber and comedian Max Fosh went to extraordinary lengths to claim a $50 refund from an unnamed airline by fabricating his own death.

The elaborate stunt was sparked by a denied refund for a missed flight departing from London (LHR), prompting Fosh to exploit a legal loophole requiring proof of death for cash reimbursement.

Photo: YouTube

YouTuber Airline Refund Stunt

Max Fosh, a 30-year-old British YouTuber with nearly five million subscribers, devised an audacious plan to get refund of £37.28 (approximately $50) from an airline after missing a flight.

Discovering a clause that airlines, including the unnamed one in his case, only issue cash refunds for deceased passengers, Fosh decided to “technically die.”

In his YouTube video titled “I Technically Died,” uploaded on June 30, 2025, he detailed the stunt, which garnered over two million views in days.

“I’m incredibly petty… It’s the principle that I take issue with,” Fosh explained, emphasizing his frustration with rigid airline refund policies.

As flagged by The Independent, his journey involved traveling to Seborga, a self-proclaimed micronation in Liguria, Italy, to secure a death certificate.

Fosh contacted multiple foreign governments before Seborga responded. The village, which claims independence with its own flag, currency, and monarchy, resonated with Fosh’s fight against “big bad airlines.”

Princess Nina Menegatto, Seborga’s head of state, agreed to issue a one-off death certificate for entertainment purposes. To bolster the ploy, Fosh staged a mock funeral with three hired mourners and his editor delivering a eulogy.

He submitted the certificate to the airline, which accepted the application and requested bank details.

However, his lawyer intervened, warning that while not technically fraudulent, the act was “fraudulent” and could breach the UK’s Fraud Act 2006. Fosh heeded the advice, abandoning the refund and urging viewers not to replicate the stunt.

Photo: Canva

Legal and Ethical Implications

Five days after submitting the forged documentation, Fosh received a response from the airline indicating progress on his claim. However, before taking any further action, he consulted a legal advisor.

While the lawyer clarified the stunt was not outright fraud, he warned that it bordered on fraudulent activity. Ultimately, Fosh chose not to finalize the refund transaction and urged his viewers not to imitate his actions, emphasizing the legal and ethical boundaries involved.

Max Fosh is known for creating comedic stunts and social experiments that challenge norms while entertaining millions.

His “death for a refund” video, although successful in execution, served more as satire than a genuine attempt to cheat an airline. The final message was clear: clever content shouldn’t come at the cost of legality or honesty.

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