Louisiana Lottery able to track down real winner
A woman was almost scammed out of her lottery winnings by the convenience store where she bought the ticket, according to Louisiana Lottery officials. But a simple step helped authorities find the rightful winner.
Fong Kwok hasn't had a day off in four years. So when she found out she won $10,000 in the Louisiana Lottery she was ecstatic.
"That day I just was so happy," said Kwok, who owns Bamboo Restaurant in New Orleans East. "I could not believe winning."
Kwok's Mega Millions ticket matched four of the five white ball numbers, plus the yellow Mega Ball number in the April 13th drawing.
But Kwok said a worker at the nearby convenience store where she bought the ticket, Downman Center, first told her she won only $3.
Lottery officials said one of the men who owns the convenience store, Raed Alhindi, 31, tried to cash in Kwok's winning ticket last month.
Kwok could have been swindled out of her $10,000 win if she hadn't done one thing, said lottery officials. She always writes her name on the back.
Officials said Alhindi crossed off Kwok's name on the back of the lottery ticket and wrote his own instead. But using special technology, lottery officials were able to lift his pen marks to reveal Kwok's original signature. They eventually tracked her down.
Kwok said she often bought lottery tickets from the Downman Center convenience store. Now, Alhindi has been arrested and charged with trying to cash an altered lottery ticket. Each of his four stores have been suspended from selling lotto tickets.
"I could not believe [it]," said Kwok. "Because every time I go over there, they are very nice."
But while Kwok is surprised, she's not angry.
"I [am] just very happy I got my money," said Kwok. "But that's all. That [is] okay."
Kwok bought another Mega Millions ticket Thursday. She said she'll always sign the back.
Her next order of business is to finally take a vacation.
"I need to go to Disneyland or SeaWorld," smiled Kwok.
Kwok plans to cash in her lottery ticket Monday at the lottery office in Metairie. No one from Downman Center convenience store was able to comment. Altering a lottery ticket is a felony. Alhindi could face up to 20 years in prison.
Good for her, and they should send this idiot to prison for 10 years or deport him if he was not born here...after he spends some time in prison and ownership of the store should be turned over to her as punishment for his dishonesty, at least his share of the store.
They need to make it mandatory in all states like in Illinois that the machine clearly shows how much the ticket is worth when it is scanned, visible to the customer.
Maybe, I just don't understand whats going on in the world. I know the economy is struggling but,
have things gotten so bad in this country that 10,000 dollars is worth a 20 year prison sentence?
Lucky woman. She was smart enough to sign the ticket at least. I too would be incredibly suspicious if I saw the name on the back of a ticket being scratched out.
I'm taking more advantage now of those self-serve ticket reading machines. More should too.
Glad she got her money, enjoy your trip.
just shoot him in public and close the store and be done with it
Someone so at ease with telling a customer that a $10,000 ticket is worth $3 sounds very practiced to me. My guess is that few of these pathetic crooks are caught their first time. Their past "successes" surely make them feel like they'll continue getting away with it.
If someone is that smooth and slick, makes you wonder if anyone should be trusted to check your numbers. Just use the scanner, or better yet
your computer to retrieve the lottery website.
The photo's of this human garbage, should be posted everywhere, to further discourage and humiliate the other would be scammers.
Mrs. Kwok should be allowed that pleasure.
Scammer with the Scanner is in jail and the true winner is one step closer to a much deserved Disney vacation.
I love Happy Endings!
Good for her ,she got 10,000 for a dollar,and he got twenty years for three dollars.I love it when goofballs get caught,because if he did it once ,it will happen again.(not for a while now)lol
Have fun on your vacation,...........................................and to the store owner don't have fun on your vacation in the slammer.
Congras Ms. Kwok I am so glad you signed your ticket enjoy your vacation....... Shame on you Alhindi.....
Sadly, this is the lesson that has been taught to us by bussness owners all across the United States : It's o.k. to try and screw someone out of money that is rightfully theirs. Big corporations do it on a daily basis. Greed is the new supply and demand mantra for business. Lying and cheating is the new code of ethics. Overcharge the bejeezus out of your customer is the new mission statement. We must all stop and give thanks to our government for setting the standard of business philosophy in the 21st century.
These stories keep popping up.
Store owners and clerks that lie to and steal from their customers seem to be more and more common place.
Also problematic scanners are being reported.
Seems the only person or thing you can trust to check your winnings is yourself.
I don't understand why people don't ask for print outs when they go to check their numbers.
This allows you to keep a record of the winning numbers with you which you can check over and over again if you don't believe you actually won.
I always check my own tickets on the web. Louisiana changed its lottery terminals so there is a small display where the customer can see it, that will show how much a ticket it after it's scanned. However, many retailers don't have it in an obvious place and some don't have it out at all.
I'm glad this thief got caught, hope he goes down for a long time.