In an unusual turn of events, a Toulouse resident is offering to divide his lottery winnings with the criminals who wrongfully utilized his stolen credit card.
Man Seeks Thieves to Split €500,000 Jackpot Forged with His Stolen Card
Man Seeks Thieves to Split €500,000 Jackpot Forged with His Stolen Card
A French man proposes a 50/50 split of winnings with thieves who used his credit card to buy a winning scratch card.
In an unprecedented development, Jean-David E, a resident of Toulouse, France, has extended a proposition to two thieves who seized his stolen credit card to purchase a winning scratch card worth €500,000 (£413,664). The self-styled “lucky victim” reached out to RTL radio, suggesting a 50/50 split of the winnings, arguing that the unique situation left him with little choice but to negotiate rather than confront the criminals.
“I want to offer them to share the winnings,” Jean-David stated, highlighting the predicament he finds himself in since the lottery operators may confiscate the prize without their involvement. The striking back-and-forth is fueled by the fact that his lost credit card was used to buy the jackpot-winning ticket, prompting the unusual proposal.
On February 3, Jean-David reported his backpack and wallet missing from his vehicle parked in central Toulouse. After swiftly blocking his credit card with the bank, he was shocked to discover a €52.50 (£43.47) transaction at a local corner store, Tabac des Thermes. A visit to the shop unveiled that two men had purchased cigarettes and multiple scratch cards using his stolen card.
The situational irony escalated when the cashier noted the duo's suspicious behavior, specifically their inability to provide a correct PIN for one of their purchases. Consequently, Jean-David contacted law enforcement, leading to intervention from local police and a heads-up to Française des Jeux (FDJ), the national lottery operator.
The winning scratch card remains inaccessible as authorities brace to confiscate any potential winnings. According to Jean-David, if the thieves attempt to claim the prize, they risk arrest as part of the ongoing investigation. Additionally, the FDJ has set a 30-day countdown for claiming winnings, placing urgency on the thieves to consider their options—an unlikely partnership with their unintended benefactor.
His lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, indicated that despite the unusual circumstances, Jean-David holds no intention of prosecuting the thieves. Instead, he views this as an extraordinary opportunity for all involved to forge a path toward a brighter future.
"Unless they contact my lawyer, the ticket is unusable. So why not settle amicably and do fifty-fifty?" Jean-David remarked, illustrating a surprising willingness to engage and negotiate with the very individuals who wronged him. Should the deal materialize, he plans to allocate a portion of his winnings toward paying off his mortgage, making this saga an unprecedented case of cooperation amid crime. The FDJ and local police have been asked for comment but have yet to respond.
