CHOCOLATE-makers turned detective to nail a scammer who lied about finding an insect in her online orders to claim refunds.
Dozens realised they had been tricked when chocolatier Geri Martin, 46, told an online forum she was nearly fooled.
Geri twigged that the woman had never placed an order with her.
Scores of people replied to say they had been scammed too.
Clare Cook, 43, repaid £37 after the woman, who we are not naming, sent a pic of a fruit fly in a box.
Clare, of Thanet, Kent, said: “I was mortified and checking all hygiene processes.”
Another maker, sent a photo of a bug on a menu card, shut down over cleanliness fears.
Other businesses say the woman smashed chocs then said they arrived broken in a bid for cash.
Chrissie Fadipe, who runs the forum, traced the woman online and phoned her. Action Fraud was also alerted.
Chrissie, 45, of March, Cambs, said: “She admitted scamming people and tried to blame it on being depressed.
“But she didn’t stop to think about the chocolatiers’ mental health. It’s such a malicious thing to do.”
Chrissie says the woman, a single mum from Surrey, started the con after legitimately finding a fly in one box.
She told Chrissie: “I feel terrible. It’s disgusting behaviour.”
She offered to send letters of apology and refunds to those she conned.
