After Jean-David E.’s bag was stolen in Toulouse, he discovered that his stolen bank card was used to purchase a scratch card that won 500,000 euros. The thieves, two seemingly homeless men, had bought the ticket with his card and were hesitant to claim their prize due to fear of arrest. Jean-David, the victim, suggested sharing the winnings with them, raising questions about the ticket’s rightful ownership and the potential legal implications for all parties involved.
A Shocking Discovery After a Theft
Imagine the disbelief of discovering that your stolen bank card was used to win a staggering fortune! This surreal situation unfolded for Jean-David E., a resident of Toulouse, who learned that after his bag was stolen, the thieves struck gold—winning 500,000 euros from a scratch card purchased with his card. To fully grasp this extraordinary tale, let’s rewind to the initial incident.
The Theft Unfolds
On Monday, February 3, 2025, Jean-David, in his forties, returned to his car parked in the bustling city center, only to find his backpack missing. Inside were his personal identification documents and bank cards. Shocked, he promptly filed a report for the theft. Even more distressingly, he discovered that his car had also been broken into through the front right window, as reported by Le Parisien.
His immediate reaction was to contact his bank to freeze his cards. However, he was informed that it was too late—the thieves had already made a contactless payment of 52.50 euros. The next day, while preparing to file a complaint, Jean-David decided to review his bank statements to track the suspicious transaction. To his surprise, the payment originated from a nearby tobacco shop, Tabac des Thermes, located less than 500 meters from where his car was parked.
Driven by curiosity, he visited the tobacco shop to gather more information. “I explained my situation to the tobacconist,” he recounted. He was hoping that the thieves had discarded his belongings there. The tobacconist recalled two men, seemingly homeless, who had purchased scratch cards using Jean-David’s stolen card. Following their initial purchase, they attempted another contactless transaction, which was declined. Unable to provide the required PIN, it became evident that the card was not theirs.
As Jean-David conversed with the tobacconist, he learned an astonishing twist: the two men had scratched their tickets and found they had won 500,000 euros—the top prize of the Cash game. Overjoyed, they sought the tobacconist’s advice on claiming their winnings, as Jean-David later shared with investigators.
However, the plot thickened when it became clear that the Toulouse police confirmed the 500,000-euro ticket remained unclaimed. The potential winners were hesitant to come forward, fearing arrest for using a stolen card. This situation raised a dilemma regarding the ownership of the prize. Jean-David, despite being the victim, pondered whether the ticket belonged to him since it was bought with his card or if the two thieves had any claim to it. Instead of wallowing in despair over his misfortune, Jean-David took an unexpected stance.
He expressed that without the thieves, he would never have acquired that ticket, and conversely, without him, they would have never won. “No matter what authorities say, and even if these two men might not be able to collect the money, this ticket rightfully belongs to someone,” he shared with Le Parisien. He even proposed sharing the winnings with the thieves. While this gesture is quite remarkable, whether the homeless men will come forward remains to be seen. Jean-David has encouraged them to reach out to his lawyer, Me Pierre Debuisson, for assistance.
Given their use of a stolen card, the two men could face legal repercussions, while the Française des Jeux may refuse to honor the winnings due to the fraudulent circumstances surrounding the ticket’s purchase. Will Jean-David succeed in locating the unknown winners? Will they accept his generous offer to share the prize? And will the FDJ approve the payout? These intriguing questions linger unanswered.