27 July 2023 , 10:29
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The historic $1billion Powerball lotto jackpot is still unclaimed after it was revealed a woman who, in explosive fashion claimed to be the winner is now accused of being a "faker."
Footage taken outside the Las Palmitas Mini Mart in Los Angeles went viral after a hysterical woman was seen breaking down in tears after claiming to have bought the winning ticket. The woman, who was wearing a black cap emblazoned with the words "psychedelic water", could be heard by neighbours across the street after screaming so loudly, according to customers at the shop.
She told reporters: "I'm scared right now, I'm so scared" before adding "God bless you" while hugging several people in the store. The woman was asked whether she was indeed the Powerball winner and tearfully replied "yes" before running down the street while being chased by paparazzi.
The woman claimed she was the jackpot winner (KTLA 5)However, it has now been revealed, the winner is yet to come forward after Sarai Palacios, the granddaughter of the store's owner Nabor Herrera, told reporters the woman did not purchase the winning ticket.
Sarai, who was shown the footage of the alleged winner celebrating, told KTLA: 'She didn't win – I'm not sure why she did that. I guess she just wanted to be on TV.
Woman was 'adamant' she would win top lottery prize - then pockets $200,000
It was revealed she wasn't the winner (KTLA 5)"We don't know who the winner is yet. They still haven't come forward."
Carolyn Becker, deputy director of Public Affairs and Communications for the California Lottery, said winners must go through a lengthy process before receiving any prize money. This includes enclosing their ticket number in the claim form, as well as attaching the original ticket along with their legal name, signature, and address.
The lottery winner is a "faker", according to the store's granddaughter (CBS News via Inside Edition)She told the Independent: “The California Lottery will NOT know who the winner is until someone completes and turns in a claim form, which also requires producing the winning ticket. The California Lottery typically does not publicly confirm or acknowledge when a prize claim has been received because there’s no way to be certain any given claim is legitimate.”
It means the staggering $1.08billion jackpot still remains unclaimed but the Palacios family are still set for a $1million windfall thanks to a loophole.
Store manager Navor Herrera will become a millionaire (AP)Dad-of-four Raul Nabor Herrera, manager of Las Palmitas Mini Market in Los Angeles, will see his life changed forever after a California law gives the retailer a 0.5 percent share of the prize fund – which in this case would be up to $1 million. He is already planning to take his children on holiday to Cancun with the Powerball winnings, telling KTV: “It’s a surprise for me."
The shop owner did not realise he had sold the winning ticket until he arrived early for work on Thursday after his shop was surrounded by photographers. Mr Herrera, who has owned the store for the last seven years, admitted he has no idea who bought the ticket, due to selling so many tickets in recent days.
The woman seemed ecstatic (CBS News via Inside Edition)Powerball confirmed three tickets sold in Florida, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island had won $2 million and there 36 other winners who are now millionaires.
There were Match 5 winners in California (seven), Connecticut, Florida (four), Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts (three), Maryland (two), Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey (two), New York (five), Ohio, Texas (four), Wisconsin and West Virginia.