The name of Pinchus Yosef Friedman of Stamford Hill has been whizzing around the globe via the internet all week as the reported recipient of a 38.5 million euro lottery win.

"The phones started ringing at 4am – friends and family worldwide wanted to congratulate us," said his wife Leah. "We even had a call from my mother-in-law in New York."

Alas for the family, it was just an early Purim joke played by friends. Never mind. "I definitely will be buying a ticket next week," Mrs Friedman said.