Are you one of two secret millionaires?
PEOPLE in Wales are being urged to check their pockets and behind their sofas as two millionaires have yet to realise their lives have changed for ever.
The National Lottery has revealed that two tickets bought in Wales over the past six weeks have yet to be redeemed – both of which are worth £1m.
The first was purchased in Ceredigion and proved to be the winning ticket of the EuroMillions draw which took place on Friday, June 22.
The second was bought further north, in Powys, for the draw which took place on Friday, July 13.
All players of the UK version of EuroMillions automatically get entered into what’s known as the UK Millionaire Maker draw, which guarantees that two people will become millionaires in every single draw.
The good news for the two people who have not yet claimed their prize is that there is still time to do so.
If you think you may have one of the tickets tucked away in a sock drawer somewhere, fear not, because if you find it you have 180 days from the draw date to claim your £1m.
That means the Ceredigion prize can still be claimed until December 19 this year, while the Powys prize can be claimed up until January 9, 2019.
However, in a caveat that is sure to interest potentially distraught players who fear they may have lost a winning ticket, it’s possible they could become a millionaire even if they don’t find it.
Under National Lottery rules, “anyone not in possession of their ticket, for whatever reason, but who believes they have a genuine claim can still make a claim in writing to Camelot, but it must be within 30 days of the draw”.
The 30-day deadline has now passed for the Ceredigion ticket, meaning you will physically need to be in possession of the ticket, but for the Powys winner it’s possible they can claim their prize without the precious piece of paper, if they can prove they are the rightful prize-winner.
In the event of the Powys ticket not being found, an investigation carried out by the National Lottery, after the deadline, will determine if the claim is genuine and whether or not the player can prove they bought the ticket.
The reason that more precise locations of the winning tickets and where they were bought are not released publicly is to protect this process and the anonymity which may be requested by any potential winner.
“We’re desperate to find these mystery ticket-holders and unite them with their winnings,” said Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at The National Lottery.
“These amazing prizes could really make a huge difference to somebody’s life.
“We’re urging everyone who bought a ticket in these areas to check their old EuroMillions tickets again or look anywhere a missing ticket could be hiding.
“Try checking in the pockets of clothing, in wallets, bags and down the back of the sofa.”
Anyone who thinks they may be one of the mystery millionaires is asked to contact the National Lottery by calling 0333 234 5050 or by e-mailing help@ national-lottery.co.uk.