Either she was very stupid or tried to commit fraud.

Reply #25

Classic47 — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:00:02 GMT

I've had something like that happen to me when I asked for a fantasy five QP and ended up with another classic 47. It was too late to go back and complain so I just bought the f5 somewhere else and kept the mistake ticket, hoping for a win (which I didn't).

Reply #24

Classic47 — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:51:40 GMT

What they should do is have machines where you can check for winners with scratchers too, and not just number games. In Michigan, there are machines where you can put a ticket under it to find out how much you won, but for scratchers, they only have them at the other side of the counter. Having those machines could help to prevent fraud. I wouldn't stop to report these clowns, even if it is just 10 dollars.

And I never understood the big deal about minors buying lotto tickets. What are they... [ More ]

Reply #23

ArtVandalay — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:33:42 GMT

I don't trust convience store clerks at all! (Funny, but I've actually worked as a convience store clerk in my younger years) I've been ripped off and screwed over too many times by convience store clerks. There have been times when I've asked to buy quick pick tickets on the PowerBall, and I get quick pick tickets on the Arizona Pick Lottery instead. There have been times when they have shortchanged me on my winnings. Instead, I buy my tickets at the customer counter at the local gorcery store.... [ More ]

Reply #22

Dead_Aim — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:09:08 GMT

Long ago, I often got my tickets at this particular store and knew the regular clerk very well, but she happen to be gone one of the days I went in. A younger woman I had never seen before was behind the counter. I ask her to run my cards that totaled $10 dollars. I handed her a ten and started to take my tickets from her other hand when she pulled them back and said, I'm sorry you didn't give me enough money. I said, what do you mean not enough money? She said you owe me $10.60. $10.60? What ar... [ More ]

Reply #21

Phokas — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:02:14 GMT

Like other comments on here I too verify the prize amount I won before handing it over to a clerk and I also seen the turnover rate of clerks pretty high in some places so I don't expect them to be experts on how to operate the lottery terminals.

With this in mind I have seen stupidity exercised the other way around by people buying non-scratch-off tickets. Almost without fail there is at least one person creating a fiasco and an ever increasing line because they refuse to fill out lottery sl... [ More ]

Reply #20

dopey7719 — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:01:10 GMT

I think of the many times things like this have happened to me here in SC and how I didn't follow up on it because I didn't want to get anyone in trouble or cause any trouble...but enough is enough. Geez

Reply #19

Kobra — Sat, 30 May 2009 10:23:10 GMT

muah hahah like the air force. muah. yes it sounds as if she was trying to take your money. like others i also hope that you followed up with this.

Reply #18

KY Floyd — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:27:05 GMT

He argued for ten minutes that the machine is NOT wrong.

Of course the machine isn't wrong. The problem is with clerks who don't know that they've asked it the wrong question. I once had a clerk try to tell me a $1 ticket cost $2 because they hadn't cleared the machine before printing my ticket.

Reply #17

TheGameGrl — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:22:19 GMT

Seriously If I was the person behind you in the line I would have been supporting your right to receive fair pay for fair play. You won it honestly and deserved the correct payment back.

I had the same thing happen with a clerk who has mastered confusion. I deliberately save up my weekly win. Tabulate them and place my final total on a sheet with a copy of the tickets. He argued for ten minutes that the machine is NOT wrong. So I showed him my COPY of each ticket the correct winnings eac... [ More ]

Reply #16

RJOh — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:31:27 GMT

One time when Ohio had a promotion to print a free QP when players bought 5 regular tickets, I bought 4 groups of 5 tickets and the clerk said she thought the free QPs belong to the store(herself) when I informed her that those tickets were mines and I wanted them. She gave them to me but I wondered how many other players she pulled that on and got away with it.

The next time I was in the store, I saw the owner and was going to asked her about the QPs deal when she informed me she had to fir... [ More ]

Reply #15

SmoothJuice — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:00:44 GMT

Yes, I agree. That's why I think it was fraud.

Reply #14

Littleoldlady — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:09:36 GMT

If she scanned that ticket at the lottery terminal, she knew it was worth 10.00 because the MACHINE told her it was worth 10.00. Those terminals scan scratch offs also.

Reply #13

SmoothJuice — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:54:17 GMT

I've been playing for 5 years and I have never came across this kind of situation. She made no sense when she explained that I won $0 on a $10 winner and it was a Different transaction . I don't understand people, when I worked at a store, it took me 5 minutes to learn the machine and they purposely made it easy to use. That was back when I never played the lotto. It's just simple press and go.... Kind of like the the United States Air Force. hehe Just kidding.

Reply #12

Coin Toss — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:06:30 GMT

Not to defend the clerk in the OP, but it could have been an honest mistake.

These people are store clerks, not lottery clerks, lottery is just a sideline. It certainly helps if you get one that is also a player and knows what you're talking about (usually...sometimes they might be more apt to try and scam you, but that's the exception).

We usually play at the service counter of a grocery and they do far more than lotto.

We have people here at LP that are clerks where lotto is sold, may... [ More ]

Reply #11

djklaugh — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:53:00 GMT

Oregon has self service lottery machines and they seem to work pretty good. Most stores set them up right by the check out stands and all the checkers keep an eye on who's buying tickets. I've seen clerks go question kids who look too young to play ... and saw one clerk check ID on a kid :) Of course if an underaged kid bought a ticket and one he or she would have to have an adult collect it for them since the lottery office requires a photo id and SSN before paying out big winnings. The machine... [ More ]

Reply #10

diamondpalace — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:21:33 GMT

They can just use ID swipe to confirm. Like they do at clubs for 21 older. Using driver license ID or authentic ID will be swipable. Look behind your ID card, it looks like a credit card. :) Problem solved.

Reply #9

SmoothJuice — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:00:10 GMT

Actually, I go to 5 different gas stations and everytime it seems like there's a new worker. In Michigan, the machines are extremely easy to use and most newbies don't have trouble figuring out how to use it. In indiana, It seems like every clerk doesn't know what they're doing. LIke I said, I don't think there has ever been a smooth transaction.

Reply #8

pepper1 — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:26:36 GMT

I would still report that store, so that they could look into it. Report to the lottery...

Reply #7

charmed7 — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:43:01 GMT

I know this is goin on in alot states, I agree, u need to find a place where

the clerk isn't bent on taking half of your winnings.

Reply #6

rcbbuckeye — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:36:51 GMT

I know you only visit every couple of months, but I would find another place to buy tics. I always buy my tics at the same place and as a result the owners of the store and I have developed trust between us. Also, I go up to OK once in a while to buy PB tics, and I used to go to a grocery store in Marietta. It seemed like the machine in that store wasn't working right every time I went there, so I finally found a little hole in the wall place closer to home to buy my tics.

I hope you can foll... [ More ]

Reply #5

CARBOB — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:34:44 GMT

So I said Ok, I want to talk to your manager about possible fraud . She replied, I'm going to say it again, the computer says $4 . Then I stared at her for 15 seconds and I could tell she was getting uncomfortable. She then said Fine, here's your $14, BYE. .

You should have talked with the manager and explained to him, the problems with fraud in other states.

I'm actually going to ask for an investigation because she could be screwing with other customers. I wonder if Indiana perform... [ More ]

Reply #4

SpanaUnlimited — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:09:50 GMT

That is a good idea! Self-service machines would be ideal! The only problem with those machines is lottery policy to ban those who are younger than 18yr old from playing. I assume a major reason why lotteries force claims to a real person is to confirm the winner is of legal age.

Reply #3

diamondpalace — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:33:36 GMT

I wonder why the lottery headquarters haven't thought of the idea for their lottery machines with duel purposes. Buying ticket from, AND paying out winning tickets. The convinience machines for self service are only programed to purchase tickets from, and to check the tickets. It has yet spit out money for winning tickets. If such machine exist it will eliminate a great amount of con artists.

Reply #2

RJOh — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:08:08 GMT

Some clerks just aren't smart. Yesterday I played Ohio Classic Lottery which is the only Ohio game with ten boards on one play slips. When I handed the clerk the play slip to run she asked you want this ran twice and I replied no and asked why. She said it would have to be ran twice to get 10 plays. I informed her that all ten plays would be on one ticket. When the terminal kicked out a ticket with ten lines, she said she didn't play lottery games so she didn't know they printed out that way. I... [ More ]

Reply #1

grandpajohn — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:40:06 GMT

I agree SmoothJuice you should know what you have won no matter where you go.Now I did once made a mistake on my winnings but the girl where I get my tickets cought it (Thank God)because I won a little more than I first thought.

Either she was very stupid or tried to commit fraud.

SmoothJuice — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:21:31 GMT

Making the story short: Know the prize amount before handing a clerk your tickets!!!!!!!

Long story: First of all, let me get some common sense out of the way:

-If it says you win $10 on a scratch ticket, that means you win $10. 10 dollar prize does not mean I get 0 dollars back.

-If the prize receipt says $10, that means the clerk owes you $10.

I go to Indiana once every 1 or 2 months to meet-up with a friend for the last 3 years and I pick up Hoosier Lottery tickets on th... [ More ]