Lottery Scam Arrest in Canada

A Canadian man wanted in connection with his involvement in a fraudulent lottery scheme which victimized U.S. residents, was arrested today in Surrey, British Columbia, announced Pete Brust, Acting Assistant ... via Federal Bureau of Investigation

[Canada]

Another Press Conference Wed today in Ontario as

Charges laid following 'insider' lottery win: police
Ontario Provincial Police have laid charges relating to a multi-million dollar lottery prize "insider" win, the force announced Tuesday...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/12/18/lot...

[Canada]

Problems spotlighted when ticket holder sued OLG

The scandal was brought to light when Bob Edmonds — an elderly Coboconk man whose $250,000 winning Lotto Super 7 ticket was cashed by a dishonest store owner in 2001 — waged a legal battle against the OLG.

The corporation spent several years and $429,600 wrangling with Edmonds in court. In 2005, OLG paid $200,000 to settle with Edmonds.

In March, Edmonds, then 83 years old, was also awarded his legal fees, bringing his award total to $250,000. He also received a letter of apology from the corporation. Just three days later, Edmonds succumbed to cancer in hospital.

[Canada]

It all started with an unlikely hero, Bob Edmonds of Coboconk, Ontario.

Last year, the fifth estate told you his story: how Edmonds was cheated out of his $250,000 lottery winnings by a store clerk and then was cheated again by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation when they made him go through a four-year court battle to get his money. Bob Edmonds eventually got that money, but his case was not unique.

The story sparked an investigation by Ontario’s Ombudsman, Andre Marin. In two subsequent updates, the fifth estate revealed more problems within the lottery system as well as other suspicious cases, including one Super 7 jackpot worth $12.5 million...
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/twicelucky/

[Canada]

The $12.5 million jackpot
12.5 million winner

In Twice Lucky, Linden MacIntyre tells the story of that 2003 $12.5 million jackpot and of the young woman, who walked in to the OLG’s offices to claim the prize, gave inconsistent stories to lottery officials and couldn’t remember any details about her ticket. Lottery officials were concerned enough to hold on to the prize money, but failed to do a thorough investigation. When no one else came forward to claim the prize after one year, the OLG paid $12.5 million to someone they suspected of lying.

This case so shocked the Ombudsman that he highlighted it in his report of March, 2007. The next day, the Ontario Minister responsible for lotteries, David Caplan, ordered the OPP to investigate the $12.5 million jackpot as well as other "insider" win cases. So, what has happened since that investigation was ordered? Find out on the fifth estate’s on-going investigation into retailer troubles at the OLG...

Kathleen Chung didn't want to talk about the lottery win with the fifth estate.

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/luckofthedraw/

[Mike Young]

Over many years the Gov't has never shown an ability to successfully manage any business other
than booze & gambling, and in this respect they are successful despite themselves. Why should it be any different when managing lotteries? These various lotteries are set up for the canadian people, why then, isn't more of ticket sales returned to them? Using the last big win from 6/49 lottery on Jan 2/08 as an example, the winner with 6 out of 6 numbers got over 37 million while the ticket holder who had 5 out of 6 numbers plus the bonus only got 161,220.00. In that lottery draw they sold over 33 million worth of tickets and only 47% of that amount goes into the prize pool. I know the lottery corporation will have all the answers as to where the other 53% of canadian dollars is going but why should
one ticket be worth 37 million. There should be a cap for maximum prize value and anything over that divided into more draws. 5 million should be a max. which would have been seven draws and hopefully 7 new canadian millionaires. Also change the percentage for the smaller prizes, give the money back to those who make the prize pools. This is supposed to be for the canadian people, well, then, the OLG should be looking for ways to give more prize money back to more canadians.

[BWG]

Glad to see that the governments of Canada and the U.S. have so many things in common. Meanwhile, I'm always willing to send a $24,000. check to get $250,000. in return. Send additional information to

G.W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500