An Indiana woman’s luck fell short after accidentally posting about her lottery win on social media.
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Drena Harris recently bought a Hoosier Lottery scratch card and learned she won $500. Excited about her win, Harris posted her winning ticket on Facebook, but the excitement didn’t last long when she didn’t even have the chance to claim her prize. Another Facebook user took a screenshot of the post and used the photo to scam a store clerk into giving them the prize money, as reported by UNILAD.
After learning about her mistake, Harris attempted to contact the state’s lottery commission, but she was told it was too late, plus they reportedly refused to pay another $500. The scam wouldn’t be able to work if her lottery win was more than $600, but participating retailers are allowed to pay up to that amount.
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“Ordinarily, if she would have acted quickly and came in soon after, we could have possibly [obtained evidence], but the retailer where it was cashed had not been a retailer for two months. It’s not a decision that we enjoy, but we can’t pay something twice,” said Chuck Taylor, lottery’s director of legal affairs and compliance. Additionally, Harris didn’t have evidence to support her claim for review.
Lottery laws differ from one state to the next. Some states expressly specify that the individual holding the winning ticket is the legal owner, while others may consider variables such as purchasing history and ownership agreements. If the rightful owner believes their earnings have been stolen or unfairly claimed, they may sue. This can be a complicated and time-consuming process, with the outcome determined by the facts of the case and the applicable legislation.
Taking someone else’s lottery wins can be deemed theft, and criminal charges may be made depending on the circumstances. Furthermore, if ownership is disagreed, lottery commissions may refuse to pay any rewards.