AIDS: THE LOST VOICES
DAILY MIRROR 14 October 1995
During the AIDS epidemic, the desperation and fear surrounding the disease created a fertile ground for exploitation, with individuals like Ann Clague at the forefront of deceit. Clague orchestrated an elaborate scam in which she sold her HIV-positive blood to those seeking to fabricate claims for state benefits, profiting from others' vulnerabilities. Additionally, a grim trend emerged in the form of blackmail, where unscrupulous individuals threatened major supermarket chains, claiming they would contaminate food products with HIV-infected blood if their demands were not met. These cases illuminate the darker side of human behaviour during a time of crisis, as some sought to capitalise on the suffering of others for financial gain.
ANN CLAGUE exploited her HIV status by charging £2,000 for fraudulent HIV tests, providing a deceptive service to individuals seeking to exploit state benefits.both individuals and public resources.
FRANK RIOLFO blackmailed Tesco demanding £275,000 or he would contaminate their food products with HIV-infected blood. He instructed Tesco to encrypt their Clubcard to facilitate his withdrawal of the cash.
NORMAN & TAYLOR orchestrated a nefarious scheme that involved blackmailing three supermarkets for a staggering total of £12 million. Their threat hinged on the chilling promise of infecting cooked food products with HIV, creating a wave of panic among consumers and grocery chains alike.
MICHAEL CAMPBELL told a tabloid he’d infected his siblings with AIDS and two had already died. His family were quick to inform the tabloid that he lied. Michael confessed he was hoping to cash in.
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