Wheel of Fortune is slammed for 'ripping off another contestant' after woman was DENIED $50,000 prize money - despite viewers insisting she 'got the answer BEFORE the buzzer'

Wheel of Fortune fans have been sent into a frenzy after complaining that the game show 'messed it up again' after a contestant was denied a hefty $50,000 prize pot.

Tamara Atkins, who works as Director of Oncology Patient Solutions and Alliances in Pennsylvania, appeared on the February 23 episode.

She chose the 'What Are You Doing' category for her final puzzle with the clue reading '_ _ _N_NG A B_ _ _  _L_B - and rattled off a series of guesses.

But host Pat Sajak, 77, did not acknowledge that she guessed the right answer despite viewers rallying round to insist that she did. 

Tamara Atkins, who works as Director of Oncology Patient Solutions and Alliances in Pennsylvania, chose the 'What Are You Doing' category for her final puzzle

Host Pat Sajak, 77, did not acknowledge that she guessed the right answer despite viewers rallying round to insist that she did 

Following the board being revealed, Sajak urged: 'Now pay attention to what's up there. There's a huge letter board. If you talk it out, you can do this.'

Tamara initially guessed at 'fanning' before briefly falling silent as time ticked on.

Toward the final seconds of the round, she blurted out 'book club' before taking a guess at the answer in its entirety.

Sadly, the contestant ran out of time before the correct answer was revealed to be 'joining a book club.'

Sajak added: 'You were right there. Got there a little late unfortunately. By the time you got to "book club," time was running out on you.'

He then revealed that the golden envelope prize was a whopping $50,000.

Instead, Tamara walked away with $21,132. She appeared to still be happy with her winnings but viewers soon flooded social media with their own thoughts.

On the one hand, there were those that claimed she had given the right answer in the dying seconds of the round.

Tamara walked away with $21,132 - she appeared to still be happy with her winnings but viewers soon flooded social media with their own thoughts 

On the one hand, there were those that claimed she had given the right answer in the dying seconds of the round 

One person wrote: 'Tamara won the bonus round on Wheel of Fortune. She already mentioned the "BOOK CLUB," then called out "JOINING A BOOK [CLUB]."

'So "joining a book club" came out of her mouth before the time ran out. Wheel of Fortune always robs people money. Give her her $50,000. She won!!!!!'

Another person wrote: 'Wheel of Fortune, that's bulls**t. She got that puzzle before the buzzer!! You've ripped off another contestant!'

A third person commented: 'Wheel of Fortune - the contestant got the puzzle right - you messed it up again!'

'Wth. I thought she said that in PLENTY of time!!! And I thought the rule was as long as you BEGAN before the buzzer, you could finish,' one person wrote.

But others disagreed and insisted that Tamara had said 'running' rather than 'joining' 

But others disagreed and insisted that Tamara had said 'running' rather than 'joining.'

One person wrote: '"Joining" and "running" is not the same.'

Another person commented: 'I don't understand what all of the fuss is about. She wasn't even close.'

A third person added: "Running" and "joining" are two completely different words!'

'She said "RUNNING A BOOK CLUB"...pretty clear,' another person added.

'First she said "fanning" then she [said] "running a book club," but she didn't say "joining a book club," so no, she didn't get the whole thing right,' one person wrote.

But this isn't the first time that fans have sounded the alarm when it comes to the game show's decisions.

In January, Wheel of Fortune fans rallied for contestant Megan who they claimed 'definitely' gave the right answer, but didn't win the $40,000 grand prize.