Frenchman offers to split lottery winnings with thieves who stole his card to buy winning ticket

A French man whose stolen credit card was used to buy a winning scratch card worth 500,000 euros has proposed splitting the prize with the thieves, as the money remains frozen by lottery authorities.

Jean-David E, 40, discovered his backpack containing his wallet and credit cards was stolen from his parked car in Toulouse on February 3. He immediately blocked the cards, but not before they were used for a 52.50 euro contactless payment at the Tabac des Thermes shop.

When Jean-David later visited the store, the cashier told him two men, believed to be homeless, had used his card to buy cigarettes and several scratch cards. One of those cards won the 500,000 euro jackpot, and the men intended to claim the prize at the French lottery company, Française des Jeux.

The cashier found their behavior suspicious as they had previously failed to enter the correct PIN for another card. Jean-David alerted police, who then informed Française des Jeux to freeze the winning ticket. If the men attempt to claim it, they would likely be arrested.

With a 30-day claim deadline approaching and no one having come forward, Jean-David has proposed an unconventional solution. Speaking to Luxembourg Radio Television Group, he argued: "Without me, they wouldn't have won. But without them, I wouldn't have bought the ticket either. So why not share the prize?"

His lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, has suggested a "pardon" agreement, stating his client has no intention of pressing charges and is open to a settlement that benefits both parties. "This could be a life-changing opportunity for the two men," Debuisson told the BBC.

The case has attracted widespread attention as the final ownership of the prize money remains to be determined.