Winner leaves Lottery office disappointed due to state's error
By Kate Northrop
A Florida lottery winner was ecstatic to win a $10,000 prize but left the Lottery claims office disappointed after he was told he owed the state money instead.
An error on the state's part left a lottery winner confused about how much of his $10,000 prize he'd actually walk away with after he was told he owed a debt.
Like any player who just won the lottery, South Florida resident Joe Cheung was both thrilled and in disbelief to discover he had won a $10,000 prize in a scratch-off game.
"I had to take my phone and scan it to be sure it was real," he told Local 10 News in an interview.
A message on his phone screen congratulated and advised him to collect his winnings at a Florida Lottery office.
When he visited the Miami Lakes office to validate his claim, the unemployed mechanic was disappointed when he was handed a piece of paper informing him that he owed the state money.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cheung had received unemployment assistance. The state had incorrectly told him he was overpaid and owed a debt of $7,800 to the Department of Economic Opportunity.
However, Cheung was one of many who had applied for forgiveness and had proof of the approval to waive the overpayments.
It took multiple phone calls with the Department of Economic Opportunity between the months of December and February to sort out the issue.
"I called, I left six voicemails, no response, and then the next thing I call again, you hold for four hours and then the line gets cut off," he told a reporter.
Many lottery players are grateful for the financial relief winnings can provide, such as paying off bills, mortgages, and necessary home repairs. Cheung is no different, saying that he would use the money to make mortgage and car payments.
Thousands of other lottery winners have experienced the same frustrations as Cheung. From January 2022 to January 2023, 9,804 winners across the state of Florida received a letter stating that they owed money, a majority of them owing to the Department of Economic Opportunity, according to the Florida Lottery.
"You can't get a hold of nobody," Cheung said.
Perhaps thanks to some pressure from a phone call Local 10 News made to the Department of Economic Opportunity, Cheung was contacted by the state days later.
"They said there was an error, and they said it would take four to six weeks to get the check back," he recalled. "She said it was an error."
"DEO's Reemployment Assistance overpayment procedures are in place to mitigate fraud," the Department of Economic Opportunity said in a statement.
The Department's fraud prevention measures have prevented more than $23.2 billion in fraud, the statement goes on to read.
"To be clear, we realize that just because an overpayment is flagged in an account, it does not mean an overpayment has occurred," the Department explained. "In fact, many overpayments occur when an overpayment waiver has not been completed by the claimant."
Cheung's story has a happy ending after all — his winnings are on the way, and he says he is grateful after almost giving up on receiving his lottery prize.
"Without you guys, I'm unable to get the money back," he told the news station. "I really appreciate Channel 10 for helping me out."
It's ironic they post photos of shoplifters in the front of the store( a criminal offense) but the store owner continues to gouge the customers (legally) with constant price increases.
That is so rude of what the lottery is doin!
This had to be extremely frustrating. They take away this guy's money he had rightfully won in a matter of seconds. But somehow it's going to take them four to six weeks to return HIS money. Everyone knows they could deposit the money into his bank account in a matter of hours. The explanation the lottery provided was extremely weak and only came after the media got involved. Shame on the Florida Lottery.
It's what happens when greed takes over from personable dealings with the consumers. Unfair price hikes service fees, mistakenly charging someone. Hospitals are just like auto body shops--- a patient or car rolls in they charge the insurance more than the actual cost.
I think it's the DEO who will be sending the money as they took it from the Lottery. But yeah 4 to 6 weeks is still ridiculously long when they can deposit it instantly.
Thanks for pointing that out. My criticism should have been aimed directly at the government agency, and not the Florida Lottery itself.
If you owe back taxes, are a dead beat dad, have unpaid parking tickets, court judgments against you and many other types of debts don't think your state lottery isn't going to check for them first before issuing you any winnings.
I once heard a story about a guy who was behind on court ordered child support payments and won $10,000 playing NY's WIN4. Imagine his shock when he was told his all of his winnings were being seized and were going to be forwarded to his ex-wife. G5
that sucks lottery is the biggest rippoff!
Perhaps thanks to some pressure from a phone call Local 10 News made to the Department of Economic Opportunity, Cheung was contacted by the state days later.
So even when they realized they were in the wrong they still would not do anything until the media stepped in.
Of course I would expect nothing less than this from a hypocritical brain dead hating red hatter misspelled card carrying oppression and fascist loving freedom hating socialist hating welfare taking members of the gqp cult idiots racist liars crime infested <snip>hole moocher red state.