Caution- theft of lottery tickets by retailer increasing

[jetset]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30550956//

[winbig]

I would say it was his own damn fault for being too lazy to check his own numbers, but you should be able to trust shops like that.

I'm glad that that (#@$*$@ clerk is serving over 5 years in prison. Maybe now he can be somebody's ho and see what it feels like to be screwed - literally.

I'm glad this story had a happy ending. The clerk won't; but maybe his new "boyfriend" will.

I think the shop in question should be banned from selling lottery tickets, as well.

[jetset]

Agreed - I personally find it a matter of concern that there are more and more reports of this sort of thing coming to light from various lotteries (something which perhaps prompted Dateline to launch its investigation).

Canadian lotteries have had some very high profile scandals which have been reported in Casinomeister News as well as generating acres of mainstream press coverage, and the risk of retailer, or retailer employees, greed is worrying.

I know I no longer trust the retailer to check my lotto tickets after reading of the many scams.

Trying to take something positive from this latest story, it may serve as a warning to would-be crooks, and spur lottery companies to tighten up on security and investigate retailer wins.

[just play]

This just happened 2 towns over from where I live....

http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/42555852.html

(This is in Massachusetts)

[chuchu59]

I am surprised that the system cannot reveal your winning amount. In Hong Kong, for each and every ticket on horses and lotteries, you know exactly how much you win by sliding your ticket at their reader.

[jetset]

I think that is the case with most lotteries, however it doesn't seem to stop some retailers or their employees indulging in a little sleight-of-hand if the customer is unwary or the chance presents itself.

And if there are no self-readers in the outlet, players are kinda reliant on shop staff (short of just checking the tickets manually for themselves).

I understand that where it is a major prize many lotteries instruct the player to refer to the retailer for further information, which could be another problem area.

In one Canadian province they were working on beefing up the audio and visual indicators that a prize has been won.

With so many trusting folks playing the lotteries it looks as if there are opportunities for the hishonest and ungodly to indulge in some crookery....and they're doing it.

They need to slam down hard on the buggers that perpetrate this sort of stunt - it's hard enough as it is to win anything on a lottery without having to worry about the people behind the counter as well!

[slotheadlizard]

Man, I wish I had dvr''d that. I love Dateline-usually the murder mystery ones though. Yes that sucks with the big winner. I can see how it would happen with 50 tickets, but as soon as he would have told me the store had a big winner, I would have checked the winning nos. against every single ticket.

The only story I thought was a little iffy was the store clerk who bought the ticket for 650, the lady actually asked him if there were another way to get the money. Seems a little wrong to suggest it, IMO.

Also, with the scratchers, why wouldn't you simply dispute not winning. Don't you just match symbols most of the time. At least take your ticket back. In my town if the clerk checks the ticket and its not a winner, they don't just keep them, they hand them back.

[jetset]

Call me cynical and suspicious, but I always initial my tickets on the back, and demand them back from the retailer after checking.

Having read a few of these lottery horror stories I take great care these days.

[winbig]

Man, I wish I had dvr''d that. I love Dateline-usually the murder mystery ones though. Yes that sucks with the big winner. I can see how it would happen with 50 tickets, but as soon as he would have told me the store had a big winner, I would have checked the winning nos. against every single ticket.

The only story I thought was a little iffy was the store clerk who bought the ticket for 650, the lady actually asked him if there were another way to get the money. Seems a little wrong to suggest it, IMO.

Also, with the scratchers, why wouldn't you simply dispute not winning. Don't you just match symbols most of the time. At least take your ticket back. In my town if the clerk checks the ticket and its not a winner, they don't just keep them, they hand them back.

Check www.hulu.com they might have Dateline episodes...not sure...

[slotheadlizard]

Win, thank you so much for directing me to hulu. OMG, I don't know how I went so long without finding it. We are a TV/Movie family. We watch a lot of shows, sports whatever. I am always dvring stuff so the memory is full on both boxes. I normally will tape all the 24s and me and my husband will try to watch in real time like in 24 hours, We never make it, lol.

This site just took care of half of my list. I can just watch some shows I missed. As for Dateline, I don't know yet, The site is so awesome, I haven't had time to check yet.