Thieves win 500,000 euros with a stolen card and are afraid to collect the prize
Some criminals stole a credit card, bought a lottery ticket and won 500,000 euros. Now they are afraid to claim the prize because of the risk of being discovered.
The owner of the card, Jean-David E., is looking for the thieves who used his credit card to reach an agreement and share the prize.
Two men have won €500,000 after buying a lottery ticket with a stolen card in the city of Toulouse, France, but they have not claimed the money for fear of being arrested by the French authorities. The owner of the card, Jean-David E. is now looking for the thieves to reach an agreement and share the prize.
The events took place on February 3, when Jean-David E. reported that his car had been broken into and his backpack, which contained his bank card and personal documents, had been stolen. The man reported the theft to the authorities and blocked the card, but purchases worth €52.50 had already been made.
After reviewing the bank transactions made by the thieves, he realized that the payment had been made at a tobacconist called Tabac des Thermes, just 300 meters from his car, so he decided to go to the establishment in search of answers.
According to the shopkeeper, the men presented themselves with several credit cards, and used Jean-David's to buy a lottery ticket, the only one that allowed a first contactless payment.
No hard feelings
As it was obtained with a stolen card, the national gaming and betting authority, the Française des Jeux, has blocked the money until the facts are clarified, and the police are considering whether it should be handed over.
As a solution, Jean-David has tried to contact the two men to share the sum, assuring that he could claim the money in exchange for receiving 250,000 euros.
“Without me, they would not have won, but without them, I would not have bought the ticket,” the man said.
Possible legal consequences
If they try to withdraw the money, they could be arrested for fraud and theft, facing prison sentences and confiscation of the prize. Meanwhile, the legitimate owner of the card has reported the misuse of his funds, which could help trace the purchase of the winning ticket.
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