Urgent warning to check your lottery tickets after $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot remains unclaimed as deadline looms
The winner of a $1.13 billion jackpot remains a mystery four months after they purchased the lottery ticket.
Lottery officials are urging residents in New Jersey to check their numbers after the winning ticket was sold at Shoprite Liquors in Neptune on March 26.
The winning numbers drawn during the March Mega Millions were 07, 11, 22, 29, and 38. The Gold Mega Ball was 04, and the multiplier number was 02, according to ABC 7.
The winner has until the one-year anniversary of the numbers being drawn to claim the total. If they don't, all participating states will get back the money they contributed to the grand total.
The warning was issued the same day officials announced a winning Powerball ticket worth $221 million was sold in Lindenwold.
Lottery officials are urging residents in New Jersey to check their numbers after the winning $1.13 billion jackpot ticket was sold at Shoprite Liquors in Neptune on March 26
The warning was issued the same day officials announced a winning Powerball ticket worth $221 million was sold at Preet Food Mart in Lindenwold
The cash value of the $1.13 billion prize is $537.5 million, according to Patch.
It was the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in lottery winning history, and the largest in New Jersey.
Although the winner has yet to come forward, lottery officials gave Shoprite Liquors a $30,000 check for selling the winning ticket.
The lottery is upholding rules and state laws regarding the history-making ticket.
'A New Jersey law allows lottery winners to remain anonymous indefinitely, and the identity of winners will not be included in materials available to public inspection under the State’s Open Public Records Act,' a statement read.
'Players claiming Lottery prizes worth $600 or more must still provide their identity to Lottery officials in order to claim a prize.'
Lottery officials also advised the potential Mega Millions winner to be cautious if they have the winning ticket.
'New Jersey Lottery recommends that the winner sign the ticket, make copies of it, contact professional legal and financial advisors, and call us at 1-800-222-0996 to file the claim,' it read.
Tejinder Singh and Rajvinder Kaur Ghotra, co-owners of Preet Food Mart, plan to use their winnings to travel
The lucky player in South Jersey purchased their winning ticket at Preet Food Mart and was still stunned by the events when they went to collect his prize this week.
A store clerk described the winner as a 'good guy' who spends $60 a day on lottery tickets, according to FOX 9.
The recent millionaire was listening to jackpot news on the radio when they got the surprise of a lifetime.
They called a friend to share the news, and that's when the win became more real.
The winner has not revealed what they will do with the money, but the Powerball player chose the cash option and collected $104.7 million.
New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey presented Preet Food Mart with a $30,000 check for selling the winning ticket.
Tejinder Singh and Rajvinder Kaur Ghotra, co-owners of Preet Food Mart, plan to use their winnings to travel.
