The Case of the Unclaimed Jackpot

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This chapter explores the fascinating mystery of a $16 million lottery ticket in Iowa that went unclaimed for nearly a year. As various individuals tried to assert claims, the story unfolds with a twist involving a suspicious claimant and a connection to a trust that raises questions about authenticity.

In 2010, a $16.5 million Hot Lotto ticket was sold at a gas station in Des Moines, Iowa. At first, no one showed up to claim the prize. And then, a series of lawyers tried to claim the money on behalf of a client they would not name. Things got stranger, and eventually investigators uncovered what has been called the biggest lottery fraud in U.S. history.

This episode was first published in 2021.

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