Money Moral Dilemma: What should I do with the lottery ticket I found in a charity shop coat?

Chumpy1962

The fact that you're asking this question means you're not entirely comfortable with keeping it all, I'd go 50/50 with the charity.

edthered70

Unless you know where it was bought (the actual store) you won’t be able to claim the ticket anyway. You’d need to send it in the Camelot and hope the winner had reported it lost. There’s no chance this will be paid out unless you can confirm you are the rightful owner. 

Grumpy_chap

Claim the £5k prize.
Donate the full amount to the charity with Gift Aid.
Hey Presto - charity gets £6k - you get clear conscience.
Win-Win

HollyandCo

I'd be wishing I hadn't found the ticket!

honestcove

No morality issue here. 

High value finds can be as low as £200. £5,000 is far above and beyond any discretionary/moral dilemma.
 Any attempt to profit from his without going through all proper channels e.g. police lost and found renders you liable to the criminal offence of theft.
At the £5k level you could be looking at a custodial sentence.

SStitanic

Just cash it in and spend it as quickly as possible. A holiday might be nice this time of year, new clothes for the winter? 

suecoo66

Niki4r said:

I think it would be worth contacting the shop and telling them you found something in the pocket (without specifying what it is) and asking if anyone has been in contact. The chances of them actually knowing who brought it in are slim. Maybe give them your phone number and let them call you if anyone does contact them looking for it. Wait a few weeks and then if you hear nothing cash it in as yours. Maybe consider donating some of it to the shop for good karma. 

I think I'd do the same 

OldSoftie

I really think this could be regarded as ‘Stealing by Finding’ by the Police. If I was you I’d take it to a Police Station, hand it in and explain how you found the ticket. They may or may not make enquiries into the ‘finding’ but if the rightful owner has not come forward in, I think it’s 3 months, the legal ownership then passes to you. You can then make a charity contribution or whatever and have a clear conscience! 

This is taken from an experience many years ago and I really aren’t sure if ‘the law’ still applies but it may be worth finding out!