£33m ticket 'washed in jeans', says potential jackpot winner in Worcester

[muriel_volestrangler]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by NH Ethylene (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: BBC

A woman has come forward to claim the £33m National Lottery jackpot - but said the ticket had been washed in a pair of jeans.

The unnamed woman went to a newsagent in Worcester with the ticket bearing the winning numbers, but the date and barcode are illegible, Natu Patel, who runs Ambleside News in Warndon said.

Camelot confirmed on Friday the winning ticket was bought in Worcester.
...
If the player can provide sufficient evidence, Camelot will investigate and determine "at its discretion whether the claim is valid and is able to pay the prize 180 days after the draw."


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-35391419

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Either the most unfortunate accidental wash ever, or the most daring con ever ...

[drm604]

1. Imagine how you'd feel.

[Helen Borg]

3. Who washes jeans anyway!

[Helen Borg]

2. At its discretion...

No brainer there on what they'll do...

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. The rules are that unclaimed prizes go to the lottery charities

(at least, I think the National Lottery works under the same rules as the 'EuroMillions' one that the same company runs the British part of) - so it doesn't make a direct difference to the lottery company:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/dec/06/unclaimed-lottery-ticket-charity-wins

[EL34x4]

5. Not a particularly original con.

Buy a ticket with the winning numbers after the numbers have been called, mutilate the date and barcode and then try to pass the ticket off as legit. She's not the first person to try this.

[LiberalElite]

6. Since it had the year (2016) and

the winning numbers, wouldn't they only have to look up the numbers pulled since January 1? What are the odds the same numbers came up on another date?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. She could have bought one this week, choosing last week's winning numbers

and then carefully 'washed' it to leave '2016' and the numbers but not things that identify it as this week. They're saying she came forward after they identified her area as where the unclaimed ticket was bought.

[LiberalElite]

9. Ah. I did figure that it probably wasn't as simple as

i posted. I was hoping a pic of her ticket would have been posted in the BBC so I could see for myself.

[Islandurp]

7. Don't wash jeans.

[houston16revival]

10. A time stamp might help

or microscopic enhancement

detergents are just too good today

[Tab]

11. This is why I don't wash my jeans

Nor do I win the national British lottery either.

[renate]

12. I'm curious about all these posts saying not to wash jeans

Really? Why? (As long as you check the pockets first )

[DhhD]

13. Someone with forensic know how can resolve the ink printed information on the ticket.

Here is such a person just by browsing a search box:
http://appliedforensics.com/jessica_cameron_research_assistant


Here is another:
http://www.safde.org/whatwedo.htm

[santafe52]

14. Money laundering…

It will get you in trouble every time.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

15. They would know which vendor sold the ticket and when.

I don't think I have ever seen a register, especially where lotto tickets are sold that didn't have a camera on it. The clerk might even remember the customer from the day and time. If the Lotto office really wanted to determine if she was the legitimate purchaser, they should be able to.

If the purchaser can tell the day and time and location, without the Lotto telling her first that should be enough.

[Chemisse]

16. Locking

Please post this in GD instead.

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