Fact Check: Angry Norwegians Planned Vacations Based on False Lottery Winnings!
What We Know
Recently, a significant error occurred involving Norway's state-owned gambling company, Norsk Tipping. Approximately 50,000 individuals received notifications claiming they had won substantial amounts in the EuroJackpot lottery. However, these messages were sent in error due to a coding mistake in the conversion of Euro amounts to Norwegian kroner. Instead of dividing the amounts by 100, the code mistakenly multiplied them, leading to inflated prize notifications (New York Times, BBC).
The CEO of Norsk Tipping, Tonje Sagstuen, resigned following the incident and expressed regret for the "false hopes" created among the players, some of whom had begun planning vacations or making significant purchases based on the erroneous information (CBS News, CNN).
Analysis
The claim that "Angry Norwegians planned vacations based on false lottery winnings" is supported by multiple credible sources. The incident involved a substantial number of people—around 50,000—who were misled by the erroneous notifications. The CEO's acknowledgment of the disappointment and anger felt by the recipients lends credibility to the claim that many had begun to make plans based on the incorrect information (New York Times, BBC).
The resignation of the CEO and the public apology from the company further highlight the seriousness of the error. Sagstuen's comments about receiving messages from players who were planning vacations or buying homes indicate that the impact of the mistake was significant and emotional for many (CBS News, CNN).
In evaluating the sources, both the New York Times and BBC are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. Their reports corroborate each other and provide a consistent narrative about the incident, which adds to the reliability of the information presented.
Conclusion
The claim that "Angry Norwegians planned vacations based on false lottery winnings" is True. The evidence indicates that a significant number of individuals were misled by incorrect lottery notifications, leading to emotional distress and plans based on false information. The subsequent resignation of the CEO and public apologies from the company further validate the seriousness of the situation.
