Would you hand in a strangers lost lottery ticket worth �30,000?

[what..the?]

It was in the news today, a couple kept the ticket and claimed the prize to later be caught out and sent to court for theft.

Your views

[squarebear]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question74 1401.html

[Bbbananas]

Ridiculous.
I'd have done exactly the same as that couple (unless I had seen the original owner/purchaser drop it in front of me & they were a pensioner or something).

How can that be theft FFS?

[sleepy1j]

i would but tell them i want 50 % of it .lol

[Joy11]

surely if it was lost and they found it????
or had it their names or something on the back?

[Bbbananas]

A lottery ticket doesn't have a person;s name & address on it. If you lose it - tough titty, you should have taken better care of it. It's not like a purse or a wallet with the loser's identity on it is it?

I'll say it again - ridiculous.

[NoMercy]

It depends on the amount on the ticket, but don't you have to know where and when the ticket was purchased in order to validate your claim???

Personally, I would hand it in.

[what..the?]

I dont beleive the womens name and address was on the back, i mean whos there at the kiosk blooming writing on the back not me. But it does highlight the need, the lottery do say this protects your win, no one else can claim the prize then.

[Bbbananas]

absolutely agree doc...
losers weepers ;-(

[Joy11]

That was a tongue in cheek thingy,,,name on back, I think it is ludicrous they went to court, how can you prove it was yours in the first place???

[NoMercy]

Because you are supposed to say when and where the ticket was purchased. How would somebody who found a ticket on the side of the road know that it was bought on, say, a tuesday at 4:10pm ????

[Hazel104]

Like the couple involved I would not have known it was crime to do what they did.

From what I read they found the ticket before the draw and there were no details filled in on the back. I guess when the lady that bought the ticket realised she had won she went to Camelot and managed to prove she had bought and then lost the ticket (goodness knows how she did).

I do feel sorry for them having a criminal record now, the lady will probably take civil action as well to get the back the15k they spent.

[Ethel]

It was proved beyond a doubt it was their ticket.
It is theft by finding.
If you lose your ticket and your numbers come up not having the ticket does not stop you claiming the prize, if you can prove beyond a doubt you bought the ticket.

Camelot say that if a lost ticket is handed in to them and any winnings aren't claimed, the finder will be entitled to the money after 6 months. Sounds fair enough to me.

[squarebear]

I think she managed to prove it was hers as she put the same numbers on every week and could tell Camelot when and where she bought the ticket.

[Hazel104]

Saying that though I'm a worrier and would probably have called Camelot to find out what I should do!

[Ethel]

She could prove she bought the ticket because she paid by debit or credit card.
She told Camelot where she bought the ticket and from there they got the details of the transaction.
Don't forget Camelot know where and when the winning ticket was purchased, and the precise time.

[Joy11]

me too Hazel or spend my days feeling so guilty I wouldnt enjoy the money!!