Lottery Winner Investigated Multiple Times Faces Public Outrage

Lottery winner speaks out after being subjected to numerous investigations, sparking public fury.

Davy

• Published in Interesting
• March 10, 2024

A lottery winner has found themselves in the midst of public outrage after being subjected to multiple investigations due to their frequent winnings. Despite the joy associated with hitting the jackpot, the repeated scrutiny has left the winner feeling like a criminal. Let's delve into the details of this controversial situation.

Amelia Barnham, aged 69, from West London, has been a regular participant in the lottery, spending £60 a week on tickets. Over time, her persistence paid off, as she managed to secure small wins amounting to £23,600. However, her latest victory of £800 sparked an unexpected turn of events.

Upon claiming her prize and providing the necessary documentation, Amelia found herself under investigation. Despite her compliance with the lottery company's procedures and submission of ticket photos, she was informed that an investigator would visit her.

Living with her husband Tony, Amelia expressed frustration at the scrutiny she faced, questioning why her modest winnings had triggered such a response.

Following her recent win of £800 on a £1 HotPicks ticket, Amelia found herself under investigation by the new operator, Allwyn. To her dismay, an ex-detective was sent to her residence, demanding proof of identity. The reason cited for the investigation was her frequent past winnings.

Amelia, a finance worker, grandmother, and mother of three, expressed frustration over the ordeal. Despite landing three of the five numbers in the draw on February 3, she has yet to receive her winnings. She remarked, “This has stressed me out so much, and I am fuming."

"I've been treated as if I've committed a crime — and having someone show up at my doorstep was incredibly intimidating.

"The numbers I played came from the national draw — so did they suspect me of printing the tickets or something?

"I've never encountered such trouble before, and I fear it might discourage others from purchasing tickets.

"The investigator who visited was an ex-detective with 30 years of experience in this field.

"He flashed his badge, stepped into my home, and began snapping pictures of my passport, insisting on seeing my bank statements.

"It's outrageous. He appeared ashamed and repeatedly apologized, even stating, 'I'm just following orders.'

"How could they subject individuals to such treatment?"

Amelia's ordeal began two days after the draw when she tried to claim her prize at the Post Office. However, staff redirected her back to the Tesco where she originally bought the ticket.

Despite managing to validate her ticket, Amelia was instructed to contact Allwyn, the new operator that replaced Camelot as the Lotto operator on February 1.

Residing in Hammersmith, West London, with her husband Tony, 69, Amelia provided the company with pictures of her ticket and was assigned a claim number. She was then informed that an investigator would visit her home on February 28.

Upon arrival, the investigator presented his ID and proceeded to photograph her ticket, bank card, bank statements, passport, and even took a picture of Amelia herself.

Expressing her discomfort, Amelia questioned the reason for the investigation. She recalled feeling uneasy and upset when told it was due to the frequency of her wins, with promises of a response within a week. However, more than a month later, she is still awaiting a resolution.

Reflecting on her experience, Amelia expressed concern for elderly individuals facing similar situations, highlighting the potential fear such visits may evoke.

Feeling disgruntled by the delay in receiving her winnings and the treatment she endured, Amelia vowed never to purchase lottery tickets again, urging others to heed her warning.

In response, an Allwyn spokesperson explained, "This is a new claims process following the Post Office's decision to no longer pay National Lottery retail prizes between £500.01 and £50,000. Security checks are essential in validating winning tickets to uphold the integrity of The National Lottery."

"We prioritize the satisfaction of all our players and endeavor to provide them with the best possible experience. It's disheartening to hear about Ms. Barnham's concerns, and we take them seriously. We are committed to addressing her issues and will reach out to her directly to understand her perspective and find a resolution.

"At Allwyn, we understand the importance of transparency and fairness in all our dealings with players. Our aim is to maintain the trust and confidence of our valued customers, and we strive to uphold the integrity of The National Lottery.

"We appreciate the feedback provided by Ms. Barnham and are dedicated to continuously improving our processes to ensure that all players feel valued and respected. Rest assured, we will investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action to address any issues raised.

"Once again, we apologize to Ms. Barnham for any inconvenience caused and assure her that we are committed to providing a positive and enjoyable lottery experience for all our players."

Davy