Store clerk busted trying to scam undercover lottery investigator

Comment #44

kingrock1 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 06:42:57 GMT

That's why I always check my numbers before i hand them over to the clerk. I know how much i won.

Comment #43

omiller315 — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 17:34:33 GMT

I remember they did a TV show on it. It was Chris Hansen(the guy that hosts the Catch a Predator shows) and they went to a few stores. I would say a good amount of people tried paying them less and then even showed their store camera footage of pocketing tickets. Maybe it was a tad scripted, but I would bet money that this type of stuff happens alot. Google chris hansen lottery and you can see some of the episode from Dateline NBC.

Comment #42

ladidiamondc — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 01:34:15 GMT

I always know what I won and if for some reason the clerk say not a winner I get my ticket back recheck then tear it up if I can't win won't no one else off that ticket

Comment #41

grwurston — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 01:33:10 GMT

I agree with you on checking scratch offs on a scanner for the reasons you mentioned, but I myself don't play them.

However, I still think its a good idea to tell the clerk what the ticket is worth on the Pick 3- 4 games. I have gone to a store, (that I don't normally frequent) to cash an $80 box ticket and was told, They couldn't cash it because they didn't have enough money in the register.

I have also had 7/11 clerks tell me they couldn't cash a larger amount and that I would have to wa... [ More ]

Comment #40

Sarge0202 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:34:53 GMT

I don't understand why so many seasoned lottery players use the self scanners. There are so many ways available to find out what the winning numbers are. If you check your tickets yourself, you will know what you've won and YOU can tell the clerk what the amount is when you cash it.

Yes, I am a seasoned player, but I am also human. With regards to scratchers, people often miss a winning number and throw away a winning card. I manually scan all my tickets that I know are winners, sometime... [ More ]

Comment #39

noise-gate — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:30:18 GMT

The opening line to this piece is Do you trust your store clerk with your lottery ticket - The short answer is Yes, BUT only AFTER l the ticket holder, has verified that it's a winner. The only times the clerk has physical contact with my tickets is, A: After he/ she has run my payslip through and handed me my tickets. B- when l hand them my winning tickets to receive my payment. That's It!

If one has poor eyesight and can't read the Winner or Non winner sign, my suggestion is carry a small m... [ More ]

Comment #38

TheMeatman2005 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 12:40:58 GMT

We would all have known how much we won since we would have watched the drawing or checked our local state's website or even used the lottery ticket scanner on the counter in the store.

But, there are people that play the lottery on a whim and aren't hardcore players like us. They don't know the pay-outs for hitting and trust the lottery person to let them know.

This story is not about players like us, but rather a woman that tried to scam someone whom she thought was an unseasoned lottery... [ More ]

Comment #37

Bleudog101 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 10:54:13 GMT

Off the subject a tad, but aren't Australian winnings tax free

Comment #36

Kosh — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 05:45:17 GMT

A thought just occurred to me that whether or not a state lottery has self check scanners available in stores where tickets are sold should be an item or factor to consider in grading state lotteries for the State Lottery Report Card here on this website.

Regards,

Kosh

Comment #35

dannyct — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 02:47:08 GMT

This is one reason why I only play by subscription. The other reasons are, the convenience, the security of knowing I can't loose my tickets, also any small are automatically credited to my account, if I win big, they will call me.

Comment #34

grwurston — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 00:47:19 GMT

That was a good suggestion about writing down your win on the ticket.

Comment #33

lejardin — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 00:27:07 GMT

That is exactly right! There are many sites to get the numbers from and I also get the numbers sent to me from three sites, and for me in this state I can scan my ticket and it will tell you if and what you won. I then write down how much I won on the top of the ticket so there is no funny business if a clerk was so inclined. You have to know what you win or the least be somewhat informed, dont leave it up to others, you are only asking for problems, like this clerk.

Comment #32

grwurston — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 00:00:29 GMT

I don't understand why so many seasoned lottery players use the self scanners. There are so many ways available to find out what the winning numbers are. If you check your tickets yourself, you will know what you've won and YOU can tell the clerk what the amount is when you cash it.

Not only does that eliminate the chance of the clerk giving you some BS amount, you also will appear more knowledgeable and as such, less likely to be scammed by dishonest clerks looking for inexperienced players... [ More ]

Comment #31

Sarge0202 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 18:21:48 GMT

Here in Illinois, the employee can check a ticket if it's a winner, and there will be no sound. Or they can scan and it will CHACHING if a winner. I am always afraid they will check a winning ticket and say it's a loser.

Everywhere here there are self scanners and everytime I selfscan then when I hand them a ticket(s) I say, here are X dollars of winners . If the self scanner is broke, I don't cash in my tickets there.

Some places have the outward facing screen displays that show... [ More ]

Comment #30

noise-gate — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 18:20:22 GMT

A common rule applies to just about anything, that involves the transfer of money. Simply put: You get what you pay for.

Eat at a restaurant, you pay. Call a taxi, you pay for the service. Since any lottery ticket can be the winner- You purchase your tickets leave the store without them? Inconceivable

Comment #29

Slick Nick — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:53:08 GMT

We have scanners here in New York also JADE. Gets rid of the fraudsters.

Comment #28

cbr$ — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:26:45 GMT

I wonder how many more customers she scammed before the undercover

agent busted her? This will stay on her record for life. When this is over.

She will need new job skills. She won't get hired for any job that require

her handling money. I don't believe any lottery retail store want the bad

press. Or to be known as the lottery retail store where lottery players are

swindle scammed.

Comment #27

OneTrickpony — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:32:27 GMT

Similar as well. I handed 5 play slips to the clerk, filled out for 5 plays each and paid for 25 plays. When I got home I only had 4 tickets. I checked my handbag, the floor, the walkway, my car...no 5th ticket. Drove back to the store, and of course the clerk said he gave it to me (but he didn't). While he was looking around the counter, trash and floor, I noticed that the little ticket printer had the corner of a piece of paper sticking up behind it. There was my ticket! Apparently when printi... [ More ]

Comment #26

uprrman — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:10:18 GMT

most clerks in my town are pretty honest.

butt i also check my tickets at the scanner.

i was in georgia once gave the clerk a ticket for 330 and he gave me 290 i called him on it and he gave the rest.

said he made a mistake.

Comment #25

CDanaT — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:44:42 GMT

Just a lack of integrity....You can't fix the gormless people.

Comment #24

zephbe — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:49:04 GMT

SCEL-The play slip is not a valid receipt or proof of purchase. THE PRINTED. TICKET IS ...

Comment #23

Kosh — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 11:51:05 GMT

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where I live, and the state of New Hampshire, also have self check ticket scanners at stores that lottery customers can use.

Regards,

Kosh

Comment #22

KY Floyd — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 06:04:08 GMT

Maybe the self checking scanner wasn't on-line or working.

I'm pretty sure that you can buy a lottery ticket even if you're not a rocket scientist. Or if you're a rocket scientist, but just don't know much about the lottery. I expect that there are plenty of people, especially those who only play occasionally, who don't know about the scanners.

I think the fraud occurs when the ticket you hand them after the draw date is a winner

There's a bit more risk in stealing a winning ticket t... [ More ]

Comment #21

Stack47 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:51:54 GMT

At least once a week I either watch clerks try to rip off players or they try to rip me off. Just today, I cashed in $8 worth of winning Keno tickets, saw the monitor show $5, $2, and $1 winners and the clerk handed me $3. The sad part was the clerk actually tried to pretend there was no $5 winner and said it was in the trash even though I saw them place all three tickets on the cash register. When I asked for the old ticket, it was oh sorry about that, I made a mistake .

If state lotteries a... [ More ]

Comment #20

NYSlugger 777 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:51:05 GMT

Baton posted a $5,000 bond on Tuesday.

So she tried to Steal $600 but then ends up having to have to pay $5,000.00 for her dishonesty. She got what she deserved. These are just the small percentage of people that have got caught it's a shame to think about all the ones who have gotten away. All for greed and money some people will do so much lying, and fraud

Comment #19

JAMORA — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:12:56 GMT

Using the tickets that printed, I would have determined the serial number of the missing ticket, and informed the clerk and the the lottery office that if that ticket got cashed, it was theft.

Comment #18

MsBee18 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:00:26 GMT

I wouldn't take that as a clerk has your ticket. He could have mistakenly handed your ticket to the next customer or the ticket could of fell out after you exit the store. I think the fraud occurs when the ticket you hand them after the draw date is a winner and the clerk decide to jip you. Thoughts

Comment #17

grwurston — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 04:21:05 GMT

All anyone has to do is, go online on their laptop or phone and Google, whatever state lottery. You can then get the winning numbers directly from the state lottery website. You can usually even watch the drawing.

And if the clerk gives you any crap whatsoever about your ticket in any way, you can just say, Well, then I'm going to call the lottery office... Do it in front of him. As soon as he hears you start to explain the problem, watch how fast he tries to make it right. (The phone number... [ More ]

Comment #16

konane — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 02:34:02 GMT

Sad story someone would do that. Georgia has self-scanners in many if not all stores. Georgia Lottery also has a cell phone app with a built in scanner.

Comment #15

Artist77 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 02:25:46 GMT

Really????? Learned something new. Thanks.

Comment #14

tdups — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 01:05:13 GMT

oh ok thanks they must have ! i did not know.

Comment #13

noise-gate — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 00:32:26 GMT

So you played, paid for your ticket, but didn't get it? Hmmm.

Comment #12

JAMORA — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 23:49:23 GMT

They turn down the volume so you don't hear the music of a winning ticket....

Comment #11

tdups — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 23:31:28 GMT

florida lotto needs to put a better system in place. when the clerk scans the tickets i want to hear music playing and winner or not a winner the screen. its there but not noticeable enough . ontario has it and its hard to not noticed you won or lose.

Comment #10

jacintasc — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:28:25 GMT

Every Winn Dixie in FL I've been to have self scanners. Also if a winning ticket is scanned by a cashier the terminal will make CHACHING! sound. Whenever the self scanners are down. I go to another store! So many stores in Florida

Comment #9

music* — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:09:43 GMT

Now Crystelle Yvette Baton will be working in a rat hole of a store in the seedy side of town. That is if she gets hired. It will take years to correct her employment history.

Why would any LP Member not use USAMEGA and Lottery Post to check their numbers?

On toward a billion dollar jackpot

Comment #8

Bleudog101 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:21:31 GMT

Excellent point!

Maybe the self checking scanner wasn't on-line or working. We like to play in Indiana and more often than not the scanner is conveniently not working in the greater New Albany, IN stores. Then you give it to the clerk to check...

Comment #7

zephbe — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:12:58 GMT

Wonder how many times she did this before she got caught. Somebody might have reported her. Glad they caught her.

Comment #6

MzDuffleBaglady — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:55:06 GMT

I had a similar experience.

I played the winning number, but, didn't get the ticket.

I still had my play slip, so I went back to the store, asked the clerk, where is my ticket?

He said, I don't have it ? I said, I have the play slip with the winning number on it that I played, but, I don't have the ticket ? I just left this store, so, check behind the machine.

He said, It's not here .

I was like, I know you got that ticket, and I hope you needed it more than I did.

So, now... [ More ]

Comment #5

MsDiamond600 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:38:03 GMT

Thank goodness CT has self ticket scanners. We also have an app to download to our phone to see if we are a winner.

Shame on her

Comment #4

noise-gate — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:56:38 GMT

l bet that lottery investigator got an adrenaline rush when he nailed her. Why?.. in speaking to some cops, they said that if fellow officers are under fire they are in pursuit to the scene, an adrenaline rush kicks in, its not asked for, it just flows in.

Comment #3

Slick Nick — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:49:37 GMT

This stuff has happened before. I hope the law gets harsher for this type of crime.

Comment #2

JADELottery — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:42:07 GMT

Minnesota has self check scanners.

No need to have a crooked store clerk check them.

If it's over $500, go to a local lottery office and collect.

If it's too high, the lottery officials may have to go to lottery headquarters to collect.

Comment #1

Bleudog101 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:31:10 GMT

Ain't she a sight for sore eyes? No.

Too bad more states didn't have undercover operations or we just know know about them. Can only recall a handful off the top of my head.

Store clerk busted trying to scam undercover lottery investigator

Lottery Post — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:55:24 GMT

Do you trust your store clerk with your lottery ticket?

Maybe you've won a few hundred bucks or more. Will the employee tell you or pocket the ticket while telling you it's a loser?

That happened this week at a Fort Myers store, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office. A Winn-Dixie Liquors employee is accused of keeping a customer's $600 winning ticket and paying him only 5 bucks.

Crystelle Yvette Baton was charged with larceny grand theft on Monday.

Baton, 42, was caught becaus... [ More ]