Fake ‘Catch the Ace’ tickets reportedly being sold in Hagersville
Organizers of the ‘Catch the Ace’ lottery in Hagersville are warning the public about fake tickets being sold in the community.
The wildly popular game has gone 44 weeks without a winner and the grand prize is now an estimated $1.7 million.
“It’s crazy,” said committee vice-chair Tanya Ribbink. “When we started the first night the jackpot was maybe $100. There’s people buying from Alberta and Manitoba. We’ve heard of people crossing the border.”
‘Catch the Ace’ is a progressive raffle where the players purchase tickets to guess which envelope contains the ace of spades. Until it’s found, money keeps going into the pot.
Tickets can only be purchased in-person on Thursdays at the Hagersville legion so the community has seen long lineups and measures have been implemented to ensure community safety.
As anticipation grows, officials are also on the lookout for fraudsters trying to sell fake tickets to the public.
“A lady had reached out to me through Facebook, asking if the tickets she bought at he local grocery store parking lot were legit or not,” said Ribbink. “She bought 20 dollars worth of tickets. She did say there was a lineup of people that were buying tickets.”
Earlier this week the Hagersville and District Lions Club, the group behind the event, notified its members of a Facebook page falsely impersonating the ‘Catch the Ace’ organizing team.
“They’ve been sending out friend requests to multiple people,” Ribbink added.
The club said the fake account was reported and later taken down.
Provincial police were also notified earlier this month.
“We’re asking anyone, that if there’s any information regarding ticket sales, please pick up that phone and have the courage to contact OPP,” said Const. Ed Sanchuk.
Only tickets purchased directly from the legion are valid.
“People say, ‘Oh, I have tickets for next week’s draw. I can’t make it, I have to sell them,’” Ribbink explained. “If someone said they have tickets that they bought and they can’t use, it’s not true.”
More than 132,000 tickets were sold this week and the legion said each one has three points of security to ensure it’s valid.
Tickets are $10 each (or three for $20) and can only be purchased in-person at the Hagersville legion on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 .m.
The ‘Catch the Ace’ draw happens every Thursday at 8 p.m. and can be viewed here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.