Somerset builder thought £1m National Lottery win was a scam for nine days

Mark Jefferson, from Ilminster, initially believed a call from the National Lottery was another sales pitch.

But after answering, he learned that his family had won an incredible £1,000,012.

The six-person family ‘syndicate’ matched five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the Lotto draw on June 24.

The prize will be shared by Mark and his wife Naomi, and their adult children Alexandra, Lily, Emily and Taylor.

Mark said: “You get so many calls and emails these days – I just thought it was another sales call so it was only by chance I answered, thank goodness I did.

“I’d already received some notifications telling me to check my National Lottery account – I guessed it was probably a few pounds we had won.

He added: “When I was told I’d won a million pounds, I genuinely thought someone was winding me up. It sounded completely ridiculous.

“A builder from Somerset being told over the phone he’d won £1M? I wasn’t convinced at all.

“I was absolutely floored. I was in tears. To think I’d spent nine days ignoring emails about something so life-changing is incredible.”

The Jefferson family set up their syndicate on July 20, 2025, to mark Mark’s birthday. Each member selects one Lotto line for every draw, with the winning line chosen by daughter Alexandra.

Mark said Naomi and the family’s daughters were at a work party when he received confirmation of the win.

He said: “Naomi and the girls were at a works party, so I rang and told them they needed to come home because I had something important to tell them.

“When they got back and I told them we’d won, the place went absolutely wild.

“There was a lot of shouting, a lot of disbelief and plenty of celebrating. It’s a moment none of us will ever forget.”

Players of The National Lottery raise around £33 million every week for National Lottery-funded projects. The National Lottery said it has awarded players over £103 billion in prize money, creating more than 8,000 millionaires.

The family said helping their children financially would be a priority.

Their early plans also include a holiday abroad, a convertible for Naomi and a caravan on the south coast for weekend trips.

Mark said: “For us, it’s all about making memories. Knowing the family has opportunities we never imagined before is the best feeling in the world.”