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Frenchman Invites Thieves to Split €500,000 Jackpot from Stolen Credit Card
A resident of Toulouse, identified as Jean-David E, has made an unusual appeal to two individuals who allegedly used his stolen credit card to purchase a winning scratch card worth €500,000 (£413,664). In a bid to negotiate a deal, he has invited them to come forward, promising to share the prize.
Speaking on RTL radio, Jean-David expressed that the authorities would likely seize the money if no agreement is reached. “Without me, they would not have won, but without them, I would not have bought this ticket. I want to offer them to share the winnings,” he stated, highlighting the interconnectedness of their actions.
The winning ticket has not yet been claimed, as it has been blocked by Française des Jeux (FDJ), the organization that manages France’s national lottery, per Jean-David’s comments.
The incident unfolded on February 3 when Jean-David discovered his backpack containing his wallet was stolen from his car in central Toulouse. He quickly contacted his bank to block his credit card, only to find that a sum of €52.50 (£43.47) had been spent using contactless payment at a local shop, Tabac des Thermes. Concerned, he visited the shop to inquire about his belongings and any suspicious activity.
According to Jean-David’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, the shop staff informed him that two men, later described as possibly homeless, had used his credit card to buy cigarettes and several scratch cards. These individuals reportedly informed the cashier that they had struck €500,000 with one of the cards and were planning to claim their winnings from FDJ.
The cashier found their behavior suspicious, primarily because the duo struggled to enter the PIN for one of the cards. After discovering this information, Jean-David promptly contacted the police, who in turn alerted FDJ regarding the possible fraudulent activity.
The police are now in a position to potentially seize the winnings, and should the thieves attempt to claim the prize directly from FDJ, they face the risk of arrest, Jean-David revealed.
Winners of scratch cards in France have a limited timeframe of 30 days from the purchase date to claim their prizes. With the clock ticking, Jean-David hopes to make contact with the thieves before the deadline passes.
Debuisson has suggested that an amnesty could be a viable option: “My client feels fortunate to have his credit card stolen under these circumstances and is not seeking prosecution. This situation presents a miraculous opportunity for these two men to turn their lives around.”
Jean-David underscored the potential benefits of reaching an amicable resolution: “Unless they contact my lawyer, the ticket becomes unusable. So why not settle amicably and do fifty-fifty?” He is willing to split the prize, explaining that he intends to use his portion of €250,000 (£206,988) to help reduce his mortgage burden.
Authorities including FDJ and the Toulouse police have been approached for a statement regarding the unfolding situation.
Source
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