Lottery officials say ticket too damaged to pay $63 million

[zinfamous]

What they don't explain well in the article is the condition of the ticket when he first went in. They gave him a "congratulatory note" along with a photocopy of his ticket. At that point you would think someone would have noticed it wasn't readable.

Later in the article they say the lottery never received his claim. So he either has the note from the claim process or he doesn't but you'd think that would be sufficient evidence. Something doesn't seem right but there's a lot of missing details.

I think these people are simply trying to scam the lotto. If they had the letter from the lottery, they would still have it. No doubt about that.

The lottery has no record of any interaction with these people--they really have no incentive to not award a winner. My thinking is that these people know that the winning ticket was sold, never claimed, and the expiration to do so is fast approaching.

They are hoping to argue that they had this ticket, was lost for some time, and only now found it (again?) and are hoping to claim the prize with dubious evidence because they have a strong enough reason to believe that the prize will never be claimed otherwise.

 

[destrekor]

I think these people are simply trying to scam the lotto. If they had the letter from the lottery, they would still have it. No doubt about that.

The lottery has no record of any interaction with these people--they really have no incentive to not award a winner. My thinking is that these people know that the winning ticket was sold, never claimed, and the expiration to do so is fast approaching.

They are hoping to argue that they had this ticket, was lost for some time, and only now found it (again?) and are hoping to claim the prize with dubious evidence because they have a strong enough reason to believe that the prize will never be claimed otherwise.

I think this must be the real answer. They should be able to verify the winner based on the lot/ticket ID, but it is likely what should be there does not match, and thus, this is not actually a winning ticket and he is simply trying to game the system.

 

[CZroe]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/05/us/man-claims-winning-lottery-ticket-feat

u cant see the barcode.

heck, you cant even see the numbers!

I can see the barcode. I can see numbers.

 

[Ns1]

i see nothing. fuck that shit.

 

[OverVolt]

What use is the barcode at the bottom? That shit could actually be reconstructed.

 

[baydude]

If the Lottery officials denied the ticket, shouldn't there be a criminal investigation on attempting fraud?

 

[SKORPI0]

If the Lottery officials denied the ticket, shouldn't there be a criminal investigation on attempting fraud?

They should, for a claim that might end up being bogus and wasting everyone's time/effort to validate authenticity of damaged lotto ticket.

 

[stlc8tr]

Define: read.

They can read the verification numbers. One only has to run that against the computer which tracks when and where the winning ticket was printed. They shouldn't even need to confirm video of who bought it - possession of the winning ticket (with signature match IIRC) is all that is necessary for lottery redemption. If that ticket is deemed a winner by way of matching the ID code printed on it, then they must payout.

They're trying to essentially get away with not awarding the prize by claiming it fails procedure, much as they would if the deadline to claim had passed.

I think this must be the real answer. They should be able to verify the winner based on the lot/ticket ID, but it is likely what should be there does not match, and thus, this is not actually a winning ticket and he is simply trying to game the system.

So you're switching sides and am now siding with the lottery?

 

[RaistlinZ]

If they can't take better care of the ticket, they obviously can't be trusted with real money anyway.

 

[1sikbITCH]

For $63.1 million, they can do a very advanced document recovery proving it.

For 0.00 they can tell him to pound sand
/profit

 

[destrekor]

So you're switching sides and am now siding with the lottery?

I'm on no sides. I just assumed, at first, that this was a confirmed lottery winner but the agency was denying the claim.

But then it dawned on me by way of others pointing it out: they could be trying to scam the game.

My real point is simply that there is enough information that is readable to determine validity. Perhaps they have done that and that is all there is to it.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Define: read.

They can read the verification numbers. One only has to run that against the computer which tracks when and where the winning ticket was printed. They shouldn't even need to confirm video of who bought it - possession of the winning ticket (with signature match IIRC) is all that is necessary for lottery redemption. If that ticket is deemed a winner by way of matching the ID code printed on it, then they must payout.

They're trying to essentially get away with not awarding the prize by claiming it fails procedure, much as they would if the deadline to claim had passed.

I am sorry but there is no conspiracy! You do not know what you are talking about! It doesn`t matter if there are supposedly other ways to verify the ticket! It is a simple concept! If you can`t read the numbers -- no money!!

 

[destrekor]

!!!!!!

 

[QueBert]

Sorry, I was referring to the lot/ticket number.

Wouldn't the machine that printed the winning ticket, or some database at least, have a connection between what was printed on what lot number? The lot /ticket number counts per every predetermined section on the roll. I'd think there would be a connection between somewhere between those numbers and what was printed. But perhaps not, I guess? Does the lottery system actually not track those numbers? I would have thought those numbers would match date and time they were printed from the system unless that is not recorded at all.

No, that's not how it works, at best they could tell that the lot number did come from the winning store. When I put a new roll in, I don't scan it or anything I just put it in. I have a box with like 20 in it. Lottery terminals are surprisingly low tech, I mean yes you're not going to scam the machine. But they run on 386 level hardware with some custom Linux kernel. As for the lot numbers, all the different tickets print out different sizes. You have Daily 3/4, Hot Spot, Mega Millions, Super Lotto, Powerball, Daily Derby & Fantasy Five.

They don't track the lot number outside of which store it went too. Beyond that they can't see the # on the back and trace it to a winning ticket or something. It's not that exact.

 

[LTC8K6]

If they can't take better care of the ticket, they obviously can't be trusted with real money anyway.

I wonder how many people are aware of the type of printer used and what that means?

 

[CZroe]

I am sorry but there is no conspiracy! You do not know what you are talking about! It doesn`t matter if there are supposedly other ways to verify the ticket! It is a simple concept! If you can`t read the numbers -- no money!!

Like he said: define "read"

Does it have to be readable without recovery methods? Does it have to be readable by someone who only understands Latin and Roman Numerals? Does it have to be readable without glasses?

 

[destrekor]

No, that's not how it works, at best they could tell that the lot number did come from the winning store. When I put a new roll in, I don't scan it or anything I just put it in. I have a box with like 20 in it. Lottery terminals are surprisingly low tech, I mean yes you're not going to scam the machine. But they run on 386 level hardware with some custom Linux kernel. As for the lot numbers, all the different tickets print out different sizes. You have Daily 3/4, Hot Spot, Mega Millions, Super Lotto, Powerball, Daily Derby & Fantasy Five.

They don't track the lot number outside of which store it went too. Beyond that they can't see the # on the back and trace it to a winning ticket or something. It's not that exact.

Hmm, TIL.

I knew the different sizes complicate matters, but I figured a little computation could match that up with a OCR scan on the back or something, or positional computation after scanning in a roll.

But I guess they aren't there yet. If advanced document recovery cannot correct that bar code, I guess, in the event this guy is a winner, he's shit outta luck.

 

[QueBert]

Hmm, TIL.

I knew the different sizes complicate matters, but I figured a little computation could match that up with a OCR scan on the back or something, or positional computation after scanning in a roll.

But I guess they aren't there yet. If advanced document recovery cannot correct that bar code, I guess, in the event this guy is a winner, he's shit outta luck.

I don't know the extent of equipment the actual lottery officials have. But, with a store machine a nearly unnoticeable microscopic smudge can cause the machine to not be able to read the ticket. And on the flip I've had tickets that were in bad shape that the termial read instantly. This is in Cali, now I know they've been rolling out new machines to select stores here and are in the process of slowing upgrading everyone. But, the current machines you see at 99% of stores are total shit. I get at least 10 tickets or scratchers a day that look in good condition that can't be read. I'd love to try out one of the new terminals, but it'll probably be years off for that to happen.