A crime in France took an unexpected twist when a man's stolen credit card led to a $523,000 lottery win. Now, the victim, identified only as Jean-David, faces a tough decision: should he forfeit the money or share it with the criminals?
The drama unfolded on the streets of Toulouse. Jean-David's car was broken into, and thieves made off with his wallet containing his credit card and identification documents. The culprits, reportedly a pair of homeless individuals, wasted no time.
Around 3 p.m. that same day, they used his credit card at a local newsstand, racking up a $59 purchase that included a lottery scratch-off ticket.
Lottery Ticket Hits The Jackpot
Quite unexpectedly, a scratch-off lottery ticket scanner confirmed it was a winner, promising a life-changing sum of $523,000. It's a far cry from the record lottery jackpot in December, but still nothing to sneeze at.
Yet, collecting the prize isn't as straightforward as the thieves hoped. They attempted to claim their winnings at the store but were told they had to contact the lottery operator. Disheartened, they left and haven't returned since.
Upon realizing what had happened, Jean-David contacted the newsstand and then the authorities. While the thieves remain at large, the lottery company has been alerted, making it nearly impossible for anyone to claim the prize fraudulently using Jean-David's documents.
Victim Offers To Split The Prize Money
In a surprising turn, Jean-David has extended an olive branch. Through his lawyer, he proposed a fifty-fifty split with the thieves if they surrendered the winning ticket. His lawyer emphasized that the prize shouldn't be canceled, suggesting an amicable resolution might be possible.
Jean-David filed a police complaint about the theft but is ready to withdraw it if the thieves come forward so that they can share the money. However, the path to an agreement is uncertain. Even if Jean-David chooses not to press charges, the pair could still face legal consequences.
Only time will tell if Jean-David and the perpetrators can reach an agreement or if the astounding $565,000 prize will remain unclaimed.
