Rad tech fueled gaming addiction by claiming fraudulent travel expenses

A radiologic technologist recently found himself in hot water after he fraudulently claimed work expenses to pay off debts related to his gaming addiction—but not the type of gaming addiction that immediately comes to mind for most. 

James Fort was a senior radiographer for a private medical company in the United Kingdom when he acquired his debts. Multiple reports out of the U.K. indicate Fort became addicted to board games during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led him to purchasing “excessive quantities” of board games, putting him thousands of dollars into debt. 

Fort allegedly tried to cover what he owed with company funds. He did so by claiming the equivalent of more than $8,500 in work expenses ranging from hotel stays to meals and mileage. Since the radiographer frequently was assigned work in areas far away from his home, he was able to manipulate his expenses to make it seem as though he had spent more on accommodations than he actually did. He used the extra compensation to fuel his board game addiction, reports suggest. 

In January 2023, a colleague expressed skepticism regarding Fort’s claimed expenses, which led to an investigation. That revealed he had claimed payment for 171 hours he had not worked. When the hotels Fort claimed to have stayed at during these shifts were contacted to corroborate his claims, they informed investigators he would book the hotel, pay in full and then cancel the booking before his scheduled stay. He is said to have kept the refunds. 

In a recent hearing on the matter, Fort admitted he had "misappropriated funds" between May 2022 and January 2023, adding that if he had not been caught he likely would have continued his misconduct. However, he told a judge that he has since quit “cold turkey” and has developed healthy coping habits. 

Fort expressed remorse for his behavior, stating it was the result of “greed and dishonesty.” He has since paid back every expense he fraudulently claimed. The company he was working for at the time terminated him, but he is still working as a radiographer in the U.K.