Woman steals credit cards, buys winning lottery ticket, gets arrested

Feb 1, 2019, 11:51 am (34 comments)

Atlantic Lottery Corporation

A 33-year-old Canadian woman hit it big in the lottery, but ended up on the losing end when the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary charged her with theft of a credit card used to purchase the winning ticket.

The woman was arrested when she tried to claim the winnings at Atlantic Lottery's office in St. John's. She now faces two counts of possessing a stolen credit card and five counts of fraud.

A store owner in Paradise confirmed the scratch ticket was purchased at his shop, but declined an interview. He confirmed the prize was in the range of $50,000.

It all started last Wednesday, when police were called by a man who said his wallet was stolen.

His credit cards were used to make several purchases at stores in Paradise, including a lottery ticket that police said won "a large amount of money."

Police say the woman did not receive the money. She was charged Thursday and released to appear in court.

As that investigation was happening, the RNC stopped the vehicle the woman had been a passenger in. A woman, 46, who was behind the wheel was ticketed for driving with a suspended licence and without insurance.

Police have impounded the vehicle.

It's not clear what will happen with the proceeds of the lottery win.

CBC News

Comments

EnReval

The proceeds needs to go the the rightful owner of the card and say ‘thank you’ thief.

sweetie7398's avatarsweetie7398

Quote: Originally posted by EnReval on Feb 1, 2019

The proceeds needs to go the the rightful owner of the card and say ‘thank you’ thief.

I Agree!

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Quote: Originally posted by EnReval on Feb 1, 2019

The proceeds needs to go the the rightful owner of the card and say ‘thank you’ thief.

I Agree! What a good idea! 

noise-gate

The man who had he's credit card stolen should get the $50K. Why you ask? For pain, suffering & undue stress. That's why!

* After all, it was his credit card that was used, and the person or machine " accepted " that form of payment. He should get what his card paid for.

music*'s avatarmusic*

There was a similar case in Oregon. The woman was caught. The winnings went to the Police. That is the law there. It acts like an incentive for the police to continue their good work.

 This is also a Lottery Post story. Oct. 28, 2005, Christina Goodenow stole from a deceased relative. She had won $1,000,000.00

LiveInGreenBay's avatarLiveInGreenBay

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Feb 1, 2019

There was a similar case in Oregon. The woman was caught. The winnings went to the Police. That is the law there. It acts like an incentive for the police to continue their good work.

 This is also a Lottery Post story. Oct. 28, 2005, Christina Goodenow stole from a deceased relative. She had won $1,000,000.00

Just another reason to leave the liberal utopia of Oregon.

AmuzingP3s's avatarAmuzingP3s

Quote: Originally posted by EnReval on Feb 1, 2019

The proceeds needs to go the the rightful owner of the card and say ‘thank you’ thief.

Sorry that happened to this gentleman, but as a second thought, EnReval has a good point; if it turns out that way, it was really a blessing in disguise.

misslucky$

It’s obvious the money should go to the owner of the credit card but they will more likely not give it to him on a technicality just so they won’t have to pay...but let’s hope they do,he deserves the money behind this

Tucker Black's avatarTucker Black

You can buy a lottery ticket with a credit card there? What a shame.

s5thomps's avatars5thomps

Quote: Originally posted by EnReval on Feb 1, 2019

The proceeds needs to go the the rightful owner of the card and say ‘thank you’ thief.

Or at a minimum at least cover the expenses of the charges that happened while she was in possession of the card. Maybe they could spilt the proceeds 50/50. 25,000 for Law Enforcement to help fund programs within the department and 25,000 for the victim. It's a win win situation. But my guess the money will go back to the lottery corporation.

I Agree!

Artist77's avatarArtist77

What normally happens with a fraudulent credit card charge is that you get a credit and the charges are removed. I doubt the owner of the card will get a dime of the lottery win since the underlying charge was fraudulent.

uprrman's avataruprrman

just another reason why crime does not pay

noise-gate

Image result for the truth- bandaidThere are always...options!

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

If the ticket had been bought with cash that was stolen there might be a reasonable argument that the ticket rightfully belongs to the person who rightfully owned the money. Since it was bought using a stolen credit card there's probably only one sensible choice for who is entitled to the winnings, assuming the lottery pays the prize. When a credit card is used fraudulently it's the credit card company that pays the merchant, not the card holder or the person who "bought" the merchandise. Assuming the credit card company paid for the ticket then they should be considered the the owner of the ticket.

Of course the lottery may claim that the ticket was effectively stolen and therefore invalid, but the argument that the ticket was stolen isn't a very good one. An argument that the cops should have any claim on the money is probably BS for the same reason. They may be able to claim stolen property when the rightful owner can't be located, but if the merchant was paid by the credit card company the ticket was paid for and isn't stolen.

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