I am willing to bet it is the tip of the iceberg - maybe even something smaller than the tip!

I would love to have that job running the sting. 

Nice scam Graphic.

Good thing they get the crooks. But I can't people are so stupid they're not able to check their own tickets for prizes.

In Florida, we have a screen that faces us and if it's a winner it automatically prints out a ticket.  I stay aware.

Todd......Nice graphic BUT I would add the word "Warning"or "Alert" in red under Scam so it is never mis-understood any other way.  As it reads now it says Lottery Post Scam, not your intention I am sure.

Yes, I feel it needs "something" there too. 

Cool graphic, Todd.

Yes, it's nice when the bad guys get caught.

State and multi-state lotteries should allow players to set up direct accounts to play their favorite games like they do in the UK (https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/registration.do); that way you cut out corrupt middlemen. Reasonable terms and conditions can always apply to prevent gambling addicts from going overboard.

Seems like once every other month we get a story like this on the CA Lottery website, I've always enjoyed them, but it kind of shocks me that EVERY time they do this sting, they are busting multiple people for these crimes.

If I have a winner, I check the CA lottery website see its value, sign my ticket, and prior to handing the ticket to the clerk, I ask them if they can cash my ticket for its winning value. Some places won't cash tickets for $400 or $500 dollars because they don't have the cash on hand.

 Todd, I find the scam graphic a little confusing, the only thing clueing me into a scam is the word scam is on the graphic. I mean no harm, but just want to offer my honest critique, cheers

I know when they run promo games at certain times I have heard the lotto machines play music to let you know you won a bonus ticket. Why don't every state adopt this as a normal routine to winning tickets of all sizes. That way, even if the owner of the ticket can not see the screen they can still hear the music or a computer voice saying "You're a winner" . It should not be that hard to make the whole machine shut down if the music or voice mechanism is tampered with or shut off. I would think this could be another deterrent for the would-be thieves.

Also, it could actually increase sales if someone walking by heard a lottery machine say "You're a winner!" while a ticket is being checked.

It's a win-win situation.

This whole thing I bet has been going on for years and it's really a case of "who's the a8Shole".

Call me one,but i'm a firm believer that people shouldn't be playing any games when they don't know the prizes for their desired games.Of course the store owners should be hung,but it seems a 2 way street.I'm glad they got caught.

I know in connecticut they recently adopted satellites to transmit numbers etc to the terminals and also the screen is facing the customer so when you win ,you see it.I've deeply sensed there was alot of silent fraud going on as well... as it is prolly cheaper to do things this way then to constantly repair wire issues somewhere

Lord knows I've seen my share of rickety folks walk in and asked if their ticket was a winner and I thought to myself"why don't they just have someone in the family check it or a trusted loved one

They deserve everthing they are going to get and more!!!

there was one store that I was suspicious of and I never won a thing there(bad vibes everytime I walked in). I switched stores and my luck changed.started winning scratch offs and then I found lottery post and started hitting pick 3 and pick 4.

and now two months ago the store burned down(what goes around,comes around).

I agree. I sometimes wonder if someone hasn't found a way to "see through" the scratch-off ticket using some type of ultra violet or other light. The music thing is definitely a MUST for all machine just like in the Slot Machines.

That was good feedback, thanks, I agree.  I have changed the graphic (you might have to refresh the page to see it. - Ctrl+F5).

Good work by the cops.Even when you check your tickits yourself ,then bring to the store ,you still have to be careful.

     Nice work Todd

Graphic looks great with the change!

I like the graphic change Todd. It really looks good.