Inside one team’s search for mystery lottery winners to find Australia’s next millionaire

A lucky Australian has the key to millions of dollars hidden at the bottom of their wallet, but they are completely unaware of it.

However, the team at The Lott are interested in this case and are trying to track them down in any way possible.

There are 15 major unclaimed lottery wins worth a total of $120 million.

Eight of the winners are in NSW, four in Queensland, two in the ACT and one in Victoria.

There are also three unclaimed Set For Life prizes, located at Parramatta and Kiama in NSW and Woden in Canberra, each with a total prize of $4.8 million paid in monthly installments of $20,000 over two decades.

“Currently, the largest unclaimed lottery prize is worth $100 million and is the largest unclaimed jackpot in Australian history,” a spokesperson for The Lott told NewsWire.

How can The Lott find hidden winners?

So, for those whose winning tickets are hidden at the bottom of their bag or behind the microwave, how can The Lott team keep track of them?

Unfortunately, there is no undercover division tracking each case or detectives reviewing security footage and making secret phone calls in a dark room to try to find the winners.

Often all they can do is sit and wait until the winner comes forward.

“Unless the ticket is registered with The Lott Members Club in-store or online, we have no way of contacting the ticket holder to alert them that they have won,” the spokesperson told NewsWire.

“We’re in the business of paying out prizes here at The Lott, and we’re always hopeful that mystery winners will check their tickets and come forward.

“Per the game rules, it is the ticket holder’s responsibility to check their ticket and come forward to claim any prizes.”

But the team still has a few tricks up their sleeves to try to find winning ticket holders in any way possible.

First, they collect “all available evidence regarding the ticket.”

This includes where the ticket was purchased, the type of ticket, and how the customer pays for it.

“We are also providing signage to outlets to celebrate the win and warn their customers,” they said.

If this does not attract the ticket holder’s attention, the team will go one step further.

“We are also sharing updates on our social media channels to alert our followers to unclaimed rewards,” they said.

“If a prize goes unclaimed for an extended period of time, we continue our efforts with additional media support to keep the community informed and maximize the chances of finding the mystery winner.”

How long do you have to claim a ticket?

If a won ticket is not claimed, there is a risk of losing the jackpot completely.

But it all depends on where the ticket holder lives, as each state and territory has its own rules.

In NSW and the ACT, winners have six years to collect their money.

In Queensland, the time period for the prize to be pocketed is seven years.

The deadline is much shorter in Victoria and Tasmania, which give mystery winners just 12 months to claim their prize.

However, Victorian residents may lodge a claim with the Victorian Government State Revenue Service, subject to the applicable statute of limitations.

Ticket holders living in the Northern Territory have three years to claim their prize.

Meanwhile, those in South Australia only have one year to claim their winnings, but if they miss the deadline they can claim an ex-gratia payment from the South Australian Lottery Commission.

How long does it take for me to receive payment?

If the ticket holder has won in the first division, the prize can be credited to his account approximately two weeks after the win.

“Part One awards are subject to a two-week provisional payment period,” the spokesperson said.

“Winners have lots of plans for their prizes, from home purchases to holidays and investments.”

What happens if the ticket is damaged?

Sometimes a ticket holder does not claim their winnings; not because he lost his ticket, but because it was damaged.

In these cases, The Lott team has a solution.

“If a player believes they are holding a damaged winning ticket, they can complete the lost or damaged prize claim form and submit the damaged ticket along with the prize claim,” the spokesperson told NewsWire.

What happens if no one demands their money?

If all of The Lott’s efforts to find the mysterious winner leave them empty-handed, the team won’t let the prize gather dust.

In NSW, Queensland and the NT, unclaimed prize money is funneled into additional draws, promotions, additional prizes and donations to the local community.

“Lott supports a range of not-for-profit organizations that support communities, particularly through health, social issues and natural disasters, including the Starlight Foundation, Children’s Hospital Foundation, Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Orange Sky,” they said.

At the end of the day, those who have registered as members of The Lott will be the first to be notified whether they have won a bonus.

“By registering your in-store or online lottery entry with The Lott Members Club, not only will we contact you immediately after the draw if you win big, but your prize is also safe,” the spokesperson said.

“Lottery tickets should be treated with the same care as cash or gift cards.”