The extraordinary story of someone wrongly identified as the winner of a record lottery payout.
Originally posted to the AsianImage.co.uk website
12:40pm Friday 11th June 2010
Exclusive By Asian Image reporter
A couple who have been wrongly accused of winning £84million in the Euro lottery have spoken of their nightmare.
They claim they have had people knocking on their door wanting their mortgages repaid and others asking for new gold teeth.
The constant barrage of requests in the past few weeks has left them angry.
The rumours surfaced after it was believed an Asian person from the region had won £84million in the Euro Millions lottery in May. The winner has opted for the right to anonymity.
The man known as BK works in Blackburn and lives in Preston exclusively told Asian Image, “I was working in my office when I got the first phone call. I laughed it off at first and thought nothing of it.
“But thereafter, the avalanche of calls, text messages and emails began. Close friends and family, immediately accepted that I had not won the £84 million.
“A friend, who I worked with some years ago and now living in China, another in Washington DC, also got news of the ‘rumour’. We were amazed at the speed and distance a rumour like this could go.
“All of a sudden long-lost relatives, past associates, friends of friends and total strangers, were suddenly looking to contact me.
“Individuals suddenly recollected an event or passing interaction that we may have had. Thereby, claiming by ‘right’ a share of the winnings.”
The winning amount according to the Euro Millions website was £84,451,320.60 for the draw held on May 14. The prize made the winner the 789th richest person in the UK with a larger personal fortune than the likes of Sir Sean Connery (£80m).
Asian Image was even called to be told of BK’s winnings.
The nature of the requests were weird and bizarre. BK said: “We had requests for motorbikes, diamonds, second homes in Dubai, sports cars, loans and mortgages to be repaid and even gold teeth. The list was endless.
“Wealthy individuals were also trying to jump on the bandwagon. It got both funny and ridiculous when close friends had people knocking on their doors late at night by ‘strangers’ asking for them to be introduced to me and pay off their ‘mortgages’ or ‘debts’.
“The one single vital point was that, all those who requested something financial or material, did not ask for me to help or aid someone else in need or the poor.”
He was also taken aback by those wanting money that would in particular circles be termed as ‘haram’.
BK added: “One individual contradicted himself to the point where his opening sentence was ‘the winnings were haram (forbidden) and I should return them, but it would be okay for a contribution to a ‘Islamic Girls School in Dewsbury’.
“Another individual phoned for building a new mosque in Bolton, when he finally accepted that I had not won, he confirmed that he was just looking for his personal debts to be paid off.
“A neighbour called round one evening and would not believe me at all, it took him ages to leave, waiting for a confession.
“Distant relatives in the Midlands claimed they had documentary proof that I had won, stating my details were in the London press. Believe me I searched for ages on the internet and could find no reference to me.”
He said he had stopped answering his phone after the first week, but somehow people found ways to contact him.
BK added: “What I have learned about people over the last weeks is that there have been individuals who I have classed as good people, family and friends. And they have been just that ‘good people’.
“As for the ‘gossiper’s’ they live so called outwardly false religious lives, inwardly full of envy and hate and living a life of ‘gheebat’.
“My advice to any winner is – the ones you classed as family and friends, will always be just that. Look after the poor, needy and hard-working wherever you find them and whatever race and religion they are. The honest ones will never ask for anything.”
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.asianimage.co.uk
Technorati Tags: british national lottery, european lottery, loterry, lottory, natinal lottery, national lotery, uk lottery draw, united kingdom lottery
