Unbeknownst Port Coquitlam woman wins $410K in online slot game
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Tamra Howren was without cell service while working near Salmon Arm, and thought a scammer was calling before realizing it was the real deal.
Imagine playing an online lottery game and winning its secondary prize, but not realizing of your new riches for three days!
That's what Tamra Howren experienced recently after winning $410,000 on PlayNow.com, the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) explained in a release today (Aug. 11).
The Port Coquitlam woman has spent the last several months working as a technician near Salmon Arm and decided to take a shot at playing Cleopatra MegaJackpots before going to an area out of cell service for two days.
She received a call informing her of the big cheque on the third day of her remote work and is now planning a month-long trip to Australia, in addition to paying down her mortgage.
“I remember almost not taking the call because I thought it was a scammer,” Howren said in recounting the surprising moment.
“But then it was BCLC’s Customer Support on the phone, and they were telling me congratulations. I was just like… ‘what?’ [...] I remember being behind the wheel and having to pull over to the side of the road. I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t. My heart has been jumping out of my chest ever since!”
Howren said a notification had popped up on her screen after she finished playing the online game, but "didn’t think much of it."
"It’s crazy that I worked for two more days and didn’t even know I had won.”
The $410,000 was the runner-up prize for Cleopatra MegaJackpots Howren played.
