An Italian tried to cash in 10 million euros with a forged lottery ticket

A 50-year-old Italian is on trial in Rome for attempted fraud after allegedly trying to claim more than €10 million with a forged scratch-off lottery ticket. The incident took place on August 22, 2019, at the headquarters of Lotterie Nazionali.

Rodolfo Bianchi, from the province of Cosenza, presented a ticket from the “Il Miliardario Maxi” series, claiming it was a winning ticket. Employees noticed, however, that the ticket had a horizontal tear and several fragments attached with adhesive tape. According to prosecutors, the man allegedly combined pieces from two non-winning tickets to create the appearance of a €10,000,540 prize.

Checks also revealed another irregularity: the amount claimed did not exist on the lottery’s official prize grid. The ticket cost €20, while the top prize was €5 million. The company notified the authorities, and the ticket was confiscated.

The trial began at the Rome Tribunal, where the first witnesses were heard on October 7, 2026. The next hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2027. The method used is known in Italy as “cut and paste.”