Latest news with #EuroMillionsMillionaireMaker
Daily Mirror
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
EuroMillions winning cancer dad thought £1 million win email was a sick scam
Single dad Paul Harvey, 51, had no idea he was sitting on a life-changing £1 million win for a week - and thought 'this must be a scam' when when he was chased by the National Lottery to claim the sum A Brit dad who became a millionaire overnight was convinced his big EuroMillions moment was nothing more than a sick scam. Paul Harvey, a 51-year-old single dad from Attleborough, Norfolk, had no idea he was sitting on a life-changing £1 million win for a whole week - and even when an urgent email from The National Lottery landed in his inbox, his first reaction was suspicion. He said: "It didn't look like the normal email I get. I thought this must be a scam. "I read the email again and then Googled the National Lottery Line where I saw the telephone numbers matched; it was then that I allowed myself to get much more excited." It comes after a woman claimed evil 'scammers tried to trick me out of £1,600 but four words gave the game away'. Paul's lucky break came in the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw on July 4, where matching a unique raffle code - not the main numbers - bags the £1 million prize. But after first checking his account and seeing he'd won £5 and a free Lucky Dip, he thought, "Happy days," and went about his day. A week after Paul's £5 win, an email from The National Lottery changed everything. "It felt like forever waiting for the kids to get home from school so I could break the news. Their reactions were hilarious and heart-warming. We all feel ridiculously excited and relieved in equal measure. It just doesn't seem real," Paul said. He even set up a camera to record the moment he broke the news to his son. "I wanted to tell the kids in person so when my son got home I set up my phone to record it. I got a massive lump in my throat as I asked him, 'How many millionaires do you know?' He said, 'Zero', and I replied: 'Well you do now'. I then added, I swear on my life. I do like to joke but when I say those words, my kids know to take it seriously." The win marks a huge turnaround for Paul, who recently underwent treatment for bowel cancer. "Life hasn't always been easy, but the kids mean the world to me, and they always come first," he said. He says a long-overdue family holiday is top of the agenda. "We have never been away abroad together, and I would love to take them both to Greece. But first we need to get our passports," he said. Paul speaks Greek fluently, having spent 12 years living in Cyprus before having children, and he hasn't ruled out returning there permanently one day. For now, the trip to Greece is a dream come true. He's also determined to help his children achieve their ambitions. "They both have big ideas about what they want to do when they leave school, and I cannot wait to help them in their chosen careers. It's the important stuff like helping them to learn to drive and getting them a car and insurance so they can get to college and then work. My daughter has a driving test later this year and would love to get her a second-hand Fiat 500 for her to practice in." The money also means Paul can finally buy a home and enjoy his own bedroom instead of sleeping downstairs. "This win gives us so many more options, but I want to take my time and do it right," he said.
South Wales Guardian
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Guardian
Father tells of ecstatic moment he told teenage son he had won £1m on lottery
Paul Harvey, of Attleborough, Norfolk, plans to treat his two teenage children to their first foreign holiday together – to Greece. The 51-year-old, full-time dad, who has had an unsettling two years following treatment for bowel cancer, also plans to buy a Fiat 500 for his daughter who is learning to drive. 'Life hasn't always been easy, but the kids mean the world to me, and they always come first,' he said. 'We have never been away abroad together, and I would love to take them both to Greece. 'But first we need to get our passports.' Mr Harvey filmed the moment he broke the news of his win to his son, as the teenager got home from school. With his voice cracking with emotion, Mr Harvey asked his son: 'How many millionaires do you know?' His son, whose details he is keeping private, said 'zero, I've got not money', and Mr Harvey swore and told him: 'You do now.' His son said: 'Shut up, you're joking, you're lying.' Mr Harvey replied: 'On my life, a million pounds, mate.' The pair then excitedly hugged, laughed and jumped around the kitchen. 'I wanted to tell the kids in person so when my son got home I set up my phone to record it,' said Mr Harvey. 'I got a massive lump in my throat as I asked him, 'how many millionaires do you know?'' Mr Harvey also plans to help his son and daughter as they near the end of their full-time education. 'I am so proud of what the kids have achieved already in life,' he said. 'They both have big ideas about what they want to do when they leave school, and I cannot wait to help them in their chosen careers. 'It's the important stuff like helping them to learn to drive and getting them a car and insurance so they can get to college and then work. 'My daughter has a driving test later this year and I would love to get her a second-hand Fiat 500 for her to practise in.' Mr Harvey entered the EuroMillions draw on July 4 but did not realise he had won the life-changing sum until a week later. He got an email from the National Lottery urging him to check his account and get in touch urgently, which he initially thought was a scam. He won by matching the unique raffle code in the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw. 'It felt like forever waiting for the kids to get home from school so I could break the news,' he said. 'Their reactions were hilarious and heart-warming. 'We all feel ridiculously excited and relieved in equal measure. 'It just doesn't seem real.' Mr Harvey, who previously lived in Cyprus, said: 'We can afford our very own home, and I can finally have my own bedroom rather than sleeping downstairs. 'And to go on a family holiday altogether will be fantastic. 'I can speak Greek fluently and I can't wait to show off to the kids. 'I lived in Cyprus for 12 years when I was younger. 'I would love to go back one day but for now it's a holiday in Greece for me and the kids. 'This win gives us so many more options, but I want to take my time and do it right.'
Rhyl Journal
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Rhyl Journal
Father tells of ecstatic moment he told teenage son he had won £1m on lottery
Paul Harvey, of Attleborough, Norfolk, plans to treat his two teenage children to their first foreign holiday together – to Greece. The 51-year-old, full-time dad, who has had an unsettling two years following treatment for bowel cancer, also plans to buy a Fiat 500 for his daughter who is learning to drive. 'Life hasn't always been easy, but the kids mean the world to me, and they always come first,' he said. 'We have never been away abroad together, and I would love to take them both to Greece. 'But first we need to get our passports.' Mr Harvey filmed the moment he broke the news of his win to his son, as the teenager got home from school. With his voice cracking with emotion, Mr Harvey asked his son: 'How many millionaires do you know?' His son, whose details he is keeping private, said 'zero, I've got not money', and Mr Harvey swore and told him: 'You do now.' His son said: 'Shut up, you're joking, you're lying.' Mr Harvey replied: 'On my life, a million pounds, mate.' The pair then excitedly hugged, laughed and jumped around the kitchen. 'I wanted to tell the kids in person so when my son got home I set up my phone to record it,' said Mr Harvey. 'I got a massive lump in my throat as I asked him, 'how many millionaires do you know?'' Mr Harvey also plans to help his son and daughter as they near the end of their full-time education. 'I am so proud of what the kids have achieved already in life,' he said. 'They both have big ideas about what they want to do when they leave school, and I cannot wait to help them in their chosen careers. 'It's the important stuff like helping them to learn to drive and getting them a car and insurance so they can get to college and then work. 'My daughter has a driving test later this year and I would love to get her a second-hand Fiat 500 for her to practise in.' Mr Harvey entered the EuroMillions draw on July 4 but did not realise he had won the life-changing sum until a week later. He got an email from the National Lottery urging him to check his account and get in touch urgently, which he initially thought was a scam. He won by matching the unique raffle code in the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw. 'It felt like forever waiting for the kids to get home from school so I could break the news,' he said. 'Their reactions were hilarious and heart-warming. 'We all feel ridiculously excited and relieved in equal measure. 'It just doesn't seem real.' Mr Harvey, who previously lived in Cyprus, said: 'We can afford our very own home, and I can finally have my own bedroom rather than sleeping downstairs. 'And to go on a family holiday altogether will be fantastic. 'I can speak Greek fluently and I can't wait to show off to the kids. 'I lived in Cyprus for 12 years when I was younger. 'I would love to go back one day but for now it's a holiday in Greece for me and the kids. 'This win gives us so many more options, but I want to take my time and do it right.'
ITV News
07-08-2025
- ITV News
Cancer survivor targets first foreign holiday after £1m lottery win
A single dad who has battled bowel cancer has spoken of the moment he told his son he had won £1m on the lottery. Paul Harvey, 51, of Attleborough, Norfolk, filmed the moment he broke the news as the teenager got home from school. His voice cracking with emotion, Mr Harvey asked: 'How many millionaires do you know?' His son, whose details he is keeping private, said 'zero, I've got not money', and Mr Harvey swore and told him: 'You do now.' His son said: 'Shut up, you're joking, you're lying.' Mr Harvey replied: 'On my life, a million pounds, mate.' Now the full-time dad, who has had an unsettling two years following his cancer treatment, plans to treat his two teenage children to their first foreign holiday together – in Greece. He also wants to buy a Fiat 500 for his daughter who is learning to drive. 'Life hasn't always been easy, but the kids mean the world to me, and they always come first,' he said. 'We have never been away abroad together, and I would love to take them both to Greece. 'But first we need to get our passports.' Mr Harvey said: 'I wanted to tell the kids in person so when my son got home I set up my phone to record it. 'I got a massive lump in my throat as I asked him, 'how many millionaires do you know?'' Mr Harvey also plans to help his son and daughter as they near the end of their full-time education. 'I am so proud of what the kids have achieved already in life,' he said. 'They both have big ideas about what they want to do when they leave school, and I cannot wait to help them in their chosen careers. 'It's the important stuff like helping them to learn to drive and getting them a car and insurance so they can get to college and then work." Mr Harvey entered the EuroMillions draw on 4 July but did not realise he had won the life-changing sum until a week later. He got an email from the National Lottery urging him to check his account and get in touch urgently, which he initially thought was a scam. He won by matching the unique raffle code in the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw.
Daily Mirror
07-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Moving moment EuroMillions winning cancer dad tells son he's worth a fortune
Paul Harvey, 51, went about his life as normal for a week before representatives from the National Lottery urged him to check his account and he discovered he'd scooped £1million This is the moment lucky Lotto winner Paul Harvey revealed to his son he was a millionaire - but only after he went through a week without realising his good fortune. The single dad - who recently underwent treatment for bowel cancer - is planning on taking his family on a holiday to Greece after bagging £1million on the EuroMillions. But first he admitted he needed to apply for passports for his children. Paul, 51, from Attleborough, Norfolk, said: 'Life hasn't always been easy, but the kids mean the world to me, and they always come first. We have never been away abroad together, and I would love to take them both to Greece. But first we need to get our passports." He added: 'I am so proud of what the kids have achieved already in life. They both have big ideas about what they want to do when they leave school, and I cannot wait to help them in their chosen careers. It's the important stuff like helping them to learn to drive and getting them a car and insurance so they can get to college and then work. "My daughter has a driving test later this year and I would love to get her a second-hand Fiat 500 for her to practice in.' Paul didn't realise he had bagged the life-changing win for a whole week. He checked his National Lottery account as normal after the draw on July 4 to find he had won £5 plus a free Lucky Dip ticket. He thought, 'Happy days', and went about his day. It wasn't until a week later that he got an unexpected email from The National Lottery urging him to check his account again and to get in touch urgently. Suspicious Paul said: 'It didn't look like the normal email I get. "I thought this must be a scam. I read the email again and then Googled the National Lottery Line where I saw the telephone numbers matched; It was then that I allowed myself to get much more excited.' Paul won by matching the unique raffle code in the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw on July 4. Instead of matching numbers on the main draw, each ticket is given a unique code which is entered into a raffle, with a top prize of £1million. Paul said: 'It felt like forever waiting for the kids to get home from school so I could break the news. Their reactions were hilarious and heart-warming. We all feel ridiculously excited and relieved in equal measure. It just doesn't seem real.' Paul filmed the moment he broke the news to his son. He said: 'I wanted to tell the kids in person so when my son got home I set up my phone to record it. I got a massive lump in my throat as I asked him, 'How many millionaires do you know?' He said, 'Zero', and I replied: 'Well you do now'. I then added, 'I swear on my life'. I do like to joke but when I say those words, my kids know to take it seriously.' Paul said: 'We can afford our very own home, and I can finally have my own bedroom rather than sleeping downstairs. And to go on a family holiday altogether will be fantastic. I can speak Greek fluently and I can't wait to show off to the kids.' Before having children, Paul lived in Cyprus for many years and hasn't ruled out exploring a return to living permanently in the sun. He said: 'I lived in Cyprus for 12 years when I was younger. I would love to go back one day but for now it's a holiday in Greece for me and the kids. This win gives us so many more options, but I want to take my time and do it right.'
