A Frenchwoman who went on a huge spending spree after "winning" the Euro Millions lottery¹ was ordered to pay the huge tab back after belatedly discovering that she had got the wrong the number.

 

法国一女子发现自己“中了”欧洲乐透后，开始疯狂购物，随后却发现自己看错了彩票号码，不得不面临被银行催债的窘境。

 

The 46-year-old, whose identity was not disclosed in the French media, believed she had won a massive jackpot. Within hours, and over the course of three weeks in February and March 2014, she issued a series of cheques - splashing out on perfumes, jewellery, clothes and ornaments² to celebrate her good fortune.

 

Her spending quickly surpassed €4,000, but with no word or cheque in sight from Euro Millions, her family started to fret³.

 

Eventually, the woman's husband got his hands on the ticket and checked the numbers. He discovered to his horror that one of the digits⁴ failed to match and informed his wife.

 

Once she realised her terrible mistake, the woman made matters worse by inventing a story that her handbag had been stolen in a bid not to have to pay back the cash.

 

She even burned the handbag to get rid of the evidence. However, she was caught on several shop security cameras writing out cheques and charged.

 

After initially⁵ denied fraud, the woman broke down in court to admit the charges. Understanding shop-owners had already contacted her to suggest payment in instalments, but she has still not refunded⁶ them, saying she was "too afraid and ashamed" to do so. However, she promised to do so now.

 

The Besançon court handed her a four-month suspended sentence and ordered her to work and to repay her debts.

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