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A man has accused two women of cheating him out of his $4m (£3m) scratch card win – because he can’t speak or read English.

Joao Luis DaPonte is suing Maria Oliveira and Susana Gaspar – all from New Beford in Massachusetts – in Bristol Superior Court disputing the ownership of the lottery ticket.

Court documents say DaPonte’s winning ticket showed a prize of $4MIL which, in his native Portuguese, translates to $4,000.

His lawyers say Oliveira cashed in the ticket on his behalf in return for a cut – but pocketed a lump sum of $2.6m while handing DaPonte the $3,800 he thought he’d won.

Oliveira, in a sworn affidavit, insists she has “never cashed in lottery tickets for anyone”.

DaPonte claims he later discovered the scheme after speaking with a friend who knew Oliveira and Gaspar.

“The defendants’ acts ... constitute knowledgeable assistance contributing to the common tortious plan of depriving the plaintiff of his lottery winnings,” DaPonte’s complaint says.

None of the lawyers for any party have commented on the case.