Beware of checking lotto tickets in Ontario

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071219/opp_lottery_071219/20071219?hub=TopStories

Convenience store clerk charged with stealing $5.7 million dollar lottery ticket. Winners were four "ordinary working people from Toronto.

Inspector Paul Beesley says, "I can tell you perhaps they didn't realize they were winners until there was some publicity"

 

The whole Ontario lottery scam is old news. CBC broke the story on The Fifth Estate back at the beginning of the year.

 

Yeah, but it's new news that a clerk stole 5.7 million dollars from people.

 

Same thing happened out here in BC.
Shocking that convienence store clerks would be dishonest

 

I think people should check their tickets before going to the store. Then they would know going in if the clerk is bullshitting them.

Nova Scotia adopted a new system where you have to sign the ticket before giving it to the clerk. Then they put it through the computer and clerk has to show you validation tag from ALC stating what you have won. Also, they have to stamp the ticket if they have paid out the prize to the winner. They staple the validation tag with the claimed ticket.

I think there was a case in New Brunswick where a store clerk won the lotto twice and he was investigated to see if the wins were ligit. Turns out clerk was plain old lucky!

 

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071219/opp_lottery_071219/20071219?hub=TopStories&s_name=

Pretty much the same story except OLG has said they are going to reimburse actual winners and holding a press conference with winners' lawyer this afternoon.

 

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071219/opp_lottery_071220/20071220?hub=TopStories

Three of the four winners had originally suspected one of their own had cashed the ticket out.

This story is getting more interesting by the minute...

 

My favorite part is the original story says the four original winners were three men and a woman...right next to a photo of the three women and a man.

Great work, writer and desk.