N.J. store seeking owner of $2.5 million winning lottery ticket

Feb 22, 2009, 11:24 am (14 comments)

New Jersey Lottery

MARTINSVILLE, N.J. — Wanted: The winner of a $2.5 million Pick 6 Lotto ticket.

The Quick Mart on Washington Valley Road has posted a letter from the New Jersey Lottery congratulating the store owners for having sold the top winning ticket in the Dec. 29, 2008, Pick 6 Lotto drawing, but those who work there can't figure out who bought the winning ticket.

"When people ask who won, we say, "We have no idea,'‚" said Tony Cirelli, a store employee.

The store still has the Pick 6 Lotto winning numbers posted on the lottery machine for the $2,544,745 jackpot, Cirelli said, but so far the winner has not returned to the store.

"We would like to congratulate them," Cirelli said. "You would think that if someone won $2.5 million, they would come in and say, 'Hello'."

The Quick Mart has had a few hundred-dollar and a few thousand-dollar winners here and there, but this is their first $2.5 million winner. Cirelli figures the store hadn't heard from the winner because the ticket holder might have just been passing through the area when he or she bought the ticket.

New Jersey Lottery spokesman Dominick DeMarco confirmed that no one has claimed the winning ticket from the Dec. 29 Pick 6 Lotto drawing. However, he said, it's not unheard of for winners to take their time before cashing in the ticket.

"Quite frankly, it's personal preference — if you want to weigh your options or talk to somebody who knows finance (before claiming the prize)," DeMarco said.

Another example of what DeMarco described is the July 22, 2008, $126 million Mega Millions prize that went unclaimed until early December.

The Lopes family, who bought the ticket at a Newark supermarket, checked the numbers several times before signing the ticket and putting it in a very safe place. They spent several months thinking about their future before taking the cash option, which meant they received $75,499,102 before the 25 percent federal withholding tax kicked in. New Jersey has no state tax on lottery prizes.

The owners of Quick Mart, who were unavailable Friday, will still receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the ticket — even if the winner never comes forward, DeMarco said.

The winner has one year from the date of the original drawing to come forward before his or her prize is forfeited. In 2008, there was nearly $40 million in forfeited New Jersey Lottery winnings, according to an annual audit report.

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Comments

chasingadream's avatarchasingadream

No Nod i just checked the ticket that I have and it wasn't me. I happened to be in NJ for New Years and bought a Pick 6 ticket. But the draw dates on mine are Jan 01 - Jan 26. oh well.......back to the drawing board.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

"We would like to congratulate them," Cirelli said. "You would think that if someone won $2.5 million, they would come in and say, 'Hello'."

Why would they think that? I know I probably wouldn't go back to the store and annoucne I am the winner. Maybe the person who won doesn't want the extra attention. Or maybe they haven't even looked at their tickets to see if they won. LOL

MaddMike51

Maybe they're seeking advice from an attorney and financial adviser and are getting their ducks in a row before claiming the prize.That would be the prudent way to go.

Piaceri

I don't know, but I think it's kind of creepy. Yeah, I know, it's very exciting to have a winner....but this situation is just a bit on the creepy side for me.

If I was the winner, I would be curious, and maybe just a little angry. The winner is not obligated to that store or those people for anything. What do they think they will get out of it?  A tip?  Before going to claim the winnings, I would go in there and sort of bring up the topic....ask them why they think it is important for them to meet this person. Then I would ask them why they think some stranger would even want to announce to them that they were the winner.

Creeps me out.   Shifty

amininflorida

" In 2008, there was nearly$40 million in forfeited New Jersey Lottery winnings, according to anannual audit report."

  See to me that is INSANE!Thud!! I mean. why bother buying tickets if you're not going to check them????

MysteryMan424's avatarMysteryMan424

They still have time to cash. Hopefully they do soon and not forget, better to get that money working for you now instead of later. And do it anonymously, screw those publicity sluts.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

Maybe they are just old and tired and forgot they bought it.  If I don't put my tickets where I can see them, I forget about them.  and just maybe, they are taking their time to decide what they want to do.

GamerMom's avatarGamerMom

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Feb 22, 2009

"We would like to congratulate them," Cirelli said. "You would think that if someone won $2.5 million, they would come in and say, 'Hello'."

Why would they think that? I know I probably wouldn't go back to the store and annoucne I am the winner. Maybe the person who won doesn't want the extra attention. Or maybe they haven't even looked at their tickets to see if they won. LOL

I would never set foot in the store again.  You never know what would happen if they found out you were worth a couple of million!!

Todd's avatarTodd
jackpotismine's avatarjackpotismine

Quote: Originally posted by Piaceri on Feb 22, 2009

I don't know, but I think it's kind of creepy. Yeah, I know, it's very exciting to have a winner....but this situation is just a bit on the creepy side for me.

If I was the winner, I would be curious, and maybe just a little angry. The winner is not obligated to that store or those people for anything. What do they think they will get out of it?  A tip?  Before going to claim the winnings, I would go in there and sort of bring up the topic....ask them why they think it is important for them to meet this person. Then I would ask them why they think some stranger would even want to announce to them that they were the winner.

Creeps me out.   Shifty

I agree. They probably expect some tip, for what? They didn't pick the winning numbers or when he/she was losing did they help. It burns me up. When they finally found out through the lottery office, I think that's enough. Bunch of leeches. Reminds me of "Ralph" from "The Jeffersons" always had his hand out expecting a tip for doing his job. Mad

louise black

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Feb 22, 2009

https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/188964 Lurking

I wouldn't tell anyone cause people would come out of the wood work once the people know u have money u can never get rest. don't tell y do    they need to be told hog wash !!!

GamerMom's avatarGamerMom

Quote: Originally posted by louise black on Feb 22, 2009

I wouldn't tell anyone cause people would come out of the wood work once the people know u have money u can never get rest. don't tell y do    they need to be told hog wash !!!

I live in a relatively small city with no financial planners to speak of.  I would actually be nervous about getting legal counsel on winning the lottery for fear it would be leaked to the press---I live in a non lottery state and it would be huge news locally.

Halle99's avatarHalle99

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Feb 22, 2009

"We would like to congratulate them," Cirelli said. "You would think that if someone won $2.5 million, they would come in and say, 'Hello'."

Why would they think that? I know I probably wouldn't go back to the store and annoucne I am the winner. Maybe the person who won doesn't want the extra attention. Or maybe they haven't even looked at their tickets to see if they won. LOL

I Agree!

They should just be happy that their store sold the winning ticket, although it's in the human nature wanting to know who...well if it's meant they will know.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

I would not wait a heart beat if I ever hit the jackpot in New Jersey or New Hampshire, why? Because those two states do not have state tax for lottery winnings. Most states lottery tax is 5% which amounts to $125,000 of his prize money. I say claim your money before they change the law.

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