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Lottery Vendor Convicted of Defrauding Customer Out of Life-Changing Prize
A Spanish lottery ticket seller has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for defrauding a customer out of a €4.7 million ($5.4 million) jackpot in 2012. The Provincial Court of A Coruña found Manuel Eugenio Reija guilty of aggravated fraud after he deliberately lied to a customer about a winning lottery ticket and then attempted to claim the prize for himself. The case, which has drawn widespread attention across Spain, highlights critical vulnerabilities in bearer-ticket lottery systems and the importance of vendor integrity. The 2025 lottery fraud cases in Europe have prompted renewed scrutiny of oversight mechanisms.
How the Fraud Unfolded
In 2012, an elderly man purchased a La Primitiva lottery ticket from Reija's shop in A Coruña, a city in northwestern Spain. After the draw, the customer returned to the store and asked the vendor to check if his numbers had won. Reija scanned the ticket and immediately realized the customer had matched all six numbers — 10, 17, 24, 37, 40 and 43 — winning the top prize of €4.7 million. Instead of informing the customer, Reija falsely told him that none of his numbers had been drawn. The customer left the store without the ticket, which Reija kept and later tried to cash in himself.
The Role of the Vendor's Brother
To execute the scheme, Reija enlisted the help of his brother, Miguel, who worked for the Spanish Lottery Administration (SELAE). Miguel used his insider position to help bypass standard verification procedures. When Reija presented the ticket to lottery officials, he claimed he had found it abandoned in his shop. However, SELAE grew suspicious and refused to pay out, launching an investigation that would span more than a decade.
The Investigation: 317 False Claims
When SELAE publicly announced an unclaimed winning ticket, 317 people from across Spain came forward with fraudulent claims. Each claim was investigated and found to be false. Investigators then used a clever forensic technique: they identified the winning number combination — 10, 17, 24, 37, 40, 43 — and traced where other tickets with the same numbers had been sold. This led them to ticket sales in A Coruña, the Costa del Sol, and Mallorca.
Cross-referencing this data with records from a travel organization for senior citizens, police identified the wife of the man who had purchased the original ticket in 2012. Tragically, the rightful owner had died in 2014, never knowing he had won millions. His widow and daughter then stepped forward to claim the prize on behalf of his estate. The Spanish lottery system reforms have been debated in the wake of this case.
Court Ruling and Sentence
On June 12, 2026, the Provincial Court of A Coruña sentenced Reija to 3.5 years in prison for aggravated fraud. The court also ordered that the full €4.7 million prize, plus accrued interest, be paid to the heirs of the deceased ticket holder. The funds had been held in a frozen account under judicial supervision throughout the trial. The verdict is not final and may be appealed to Spain's Supreme Court. The 2026 European justice rulings on financial crimes may set precedents for similar cases.
Impact on Spain's Lottery System
The case has sparked debate about reforming Spain's bearer-ticket lottery system, where paper tickets are the sole proof of ownership. Critics argue that the system leaves winners vulnerable to dishonest vendors and that digital tracking or mandatory registration could prevent similar frauds. Consumer advocacy groups have called for mandatory ID verification for large prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the lottery prize involved?
The winning ticket was for Spain's La Primitiva lottery, worth €4.7 million (approximately $5.4 million). The draw took place in 2012.
How did the vendor try to steal the ticket?
The vendor scanned the customer's ticket, saw it was the winner, but falsely told the customer it had not won. He kept the ticket and later claimed he had found it in his shop, attempting to collect the prize with his brother's help.
What happened to the rightful winner?
The elderly man who bought the ticket died in 2014, never knowing he had won the jackpot. His widow and daughter later successfully claimed the prize through the courts.
What sentence did the lottery seller receive?
Manuel Eugenio Reija was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for aggravated fraud. The court also ordered the full prize plus interest to be paid to the victim's heirs.
Can the verdict be appealed?
Yes, the verdict is subject to appeal before Spain's Supreme Court. The defense has indicated it may challenge the ruling.
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