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

[Marijn]

I agree with Ethel

[Ethel]

Of course the card statement doesn't show the numbers, doc.
But the terminal where the ticket was bought has all the transaction details, including the numbers of the tickets and the card number, and these details are kept on a databases.

You give Camelot your card number and they could tell you all the tickets you bought, where you bought them and the numbers.

[Bbbananas]

I still wouldn't go as far as to say it was theft though?

[Barmaid]

If they were her regular numbers, (and perhaps regular numbers on two or three lines) and can say "I bought the ticket with these numbers on at 3.15 on 24 Feb at Anytown Stores and here is my debit card" that will be corroborated by Camelots machine, the store's till and her debit card transaction. Presumably she phoned Camelot and said "I've lost my ticket" and gave them the above info when she realised it was missing.

When the finders called Camelot and claimed the money, presumably they were asked "where did you buy it, how did you pay for it, when etc". They may or may not have been able to answer the questions, but clearly they gave some information wrongly since they were also charged with making a false representation.

Had they called and said "We found it", the outcome would have been very different.

[Hazel104]

Snap Joy - the guilt would ruin it for me too!

It does pay to be honest - I had a large amount of money go into my account a few years back I had no idea where from. Didn't touch it and after months of searching with no help from my or the other bank involved it did turn out to be mine (long story why I didn't know about). Felt great spending it with a clear conscience though. x

[Bbbananas]

If they had owned up to finding it - what would have happened then?

[Barmaid]

I think it would really depend on how it was put - if they tried to claim the money but admitted to finding it, it might be charged as attempted theft. However, if they called up and said "hey we found this ticket, what happens now", no charges would have been brought.

Even if the ticket had not been a winner and they had kept it, technically that is still theft. Although no one would ever have known about it!

[Ethel]

And then they would have won half, fair and square.
The winners of the original ticket would still have been able to claim, as they could prove they bought the ticket.
There have been several instances of winners been paid out without the ticket, as they have definite proof they bought that ticket.

[Barmaid]

That would still be theft doc! Although I like your thinking.

[4getmenot]

I read this at lunch and I cannot believe that they were nearly sentenced for fraud. Its the woman own fault for dropping and if I;d found a winning ticket I;d have spent it too. They never did charlie bucket for fraud he found that pound that paid for golden ticket thieving little gypsy

[Bbbananas]

That would have been a much better outcome Ethel - honesty (well, a sort-of) is always the best policy eh?

I like Doc's idea though!

[Ethel]

Salla - honesty is always the best policy.
I have handed money and a handbag in to the police station (separate occasions). I got the money back as it was never claimed, and a gift from the lady who owned the handbag.
I have been very lucky, too, when I lost a briefcase. I got it back intact.

[4getmenot]

I have handed money in ethel and would do a handbag but the couple handed ticket in and were told to keep it.

[Inspiration]

I think they did well to spend �15k of it. I would have done the same as them but now I know that the ticket is so easily traceable I would be scared of being found out so I would reluctantly hand it in. Bit different if I found a wad of money in an unidentifiable plastic bag!