Astute clerk steps in to save woman throwing out ticket
NOVI, Mich. — An aware store clerk saved an Oakland County, Michigan, woman from throwing away a $100,000 winning lottery game ticket.
Melissa Dean said she bought two Triple Your Luck tickets at the Smokers Express on West Pontiac Trail in Novi. She won $15 on one of the tickets, but she didn't think the other ticket was a winner, according to a news release from the Michigan Lottery.
"I scratched the ticket and didn't think it was a winner, so I set it aside," said Dean. "On my second ticket I won $15, so I returned to the store to cash it in. I asked the clerk to throw the other ticket away and that is when he looked it over and scratched off the prize amount."
The clerk, Raj Patel, took a look at the ticket and realized it was a $100,000 winner.
"He started screaming that I had won $100,000. I thought he was joking with me, but other customers looked the ticket over and told me I was a big winner. The clerk told me to sign the back of the ticket and call the Lottery office," said Dean.
Mike Dorra was in the store at the time.
"On the 2nd one, she said, 'This is a losing ticket,'" Dorra said. "Raj then scratched the rest of the ticket and said, 'You won!'"
You could say Raj is a good luck charm. Not only did he save the day for Dean, he's sold three other big winning tickets over the past few years: two $1 million dollar tickets and one other $100,000 prize.
"I said to her, 'Ma'am you won something very big!'" Patel said. "I came over and checked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 zeros, you won $100,000!"
The Michigan Lottery said Dean collected her prize on Monday. Dean said she rarely plays the lottery. She plans to buy a new car and invest the rest, and take a vacation.
"I still can't believe I won $100,000 playing the Lottery. I keep wondering when a ticket is going to catch my eye again," she said.
Imagine that! Let's hear it for an honest store clerk, with a much maligned last name.
Another example of why all state lotteries should offer player registration cards.
Is that all one has to do? Mark that one down on the list with the rest of the stupid places where winning lottery tickets are found.
Good story.... Nice to see honesty working again in our country in Michigan . Peace 1
Congratulation to the winner. Thanks to the honest clerk, especially with the surname of "Patel".
Yes, plus ... caring, diligent, and unwreckless [unlike many of his customers]!!! High utility traits missing from many workers in all industries and pay grades.
Consequently, I hope that something positive, financially empowering happens for uber customer service oriented Raj!
I used to know a guy named Raj Patel, not the same guy.
Still, proof you can't label people.
People like Raj Patel tennis you that humanity still exists in this crazy place we call earth.
She was incredibly lucky, if the clerk did not realize the ticket was valuable or he wasn't honest, she would have lost the money and wouldn't have even know.
She should play by subscription.
Can't subscribe scratchers! Seriously good luck for her....she could have taken it home or to the car and trashed it elsewhere....the clerk could have not looked at it (while she was there, too) She was very lucky indeed....
You can play the Michigan online but,
"You must be at least 18 years of age and physically located in Michigan to purchase a lottery ticket on this site.
Failure to follow these requirements may violate state and federal law and void any prize won."
According to the Michigan State Lottery.
congrats to the winner !! And to the honest gentleman !!! But here in Michigan we have these little scanners on the counter that will scan the bar code of any ticket you purchase ( 3 digit and scratch offs, lotto..etc.) and will tell you how much you won or that it is not a winner. So the lady would have been wise to scan it. She just happened to be in the right store at the right time with and honest clerk !!!
I'm surprised no one has suggested that Melissa return to the store and give Honest Raj Patel a tip $$. This one seems like the "perfect" opportunity for that show of gratitude.