Lottery Fake-Out: Fresno Woman ALMOST Wins $54 Million
Elida Betancourt has an awfully big bone to pick with the Fresno Bee. The paper sent the Fresno County woman on an emotional ride on Wednesday morning after it reprinted the previous Friday's winning lottery numbers in lieu of the Tuesday drawing. Her morning went from "OMG!!! You just won $54 million!!!" to "Wait, no you didn't. Oops. You win nothing. Carry on."
Betancourt checked her six numbers several times to confirm that they matched Tuesday's mega millions drawing. "I re-checked it about five times, and they were still the same numbers, and I started screaming and crying. I sat down on the floor. My son heard me screaming. He thought I was having a heart attack," she said, according KMPH.
About an hour after the celebration, Raymond Betancourt, Elida's son, "went to the store to verify the numbers, and they were different numbers than the Fresno Bee had on there," Raymond said. The family called the Bee to report the tremendous error. A correction was posted on the publication's website.
"This time I was very, very upset. You know, how could they do this mistake, you know," said Betancourt, who lost her husband in late July. Having just ordered his tombstone, Betancourt realized that she is in need of a new roof. "When I saw this I said now I have the money to fix what I have to fix."
As a veteran lottery player, she plays the same numbers every drawing. However, last Friday she played a quick pick instead. Ouch. Here's to truly winning someday soon, Elida.
