Melrose Store Accused Of Scamming Disabled Customer Out Of Lottery Winnings
MELROSE (CBS) – The Massachusetts State Lottery is looking to permanently terminate a Melrose store's license to sell tickets after it says a store owner underpaid a winning ticket being cashed in by a mentally disabled customer.
A lottery official said the license at RD's Deli and Market in Melrose has been indefinitely suspended after a mentally disabled customer was given $950 on a winning ticket worth $10,000.
The customer brought in the ticket and was told it was a $1,000 prize. The owner offered cash, which is a violation because any prize over $600 must be cashed at the lottery office.
Suspecting something was not correct, the customer told a family member, who contacted the Massachusetts State Lottery. The family member provided details about the ticket such as the game name, where the prize was revealed on the ticket, and when it was purchased, a lottery official said.
Having confirmed that the ticket was indeed sold at RD's Deli and Market, the lottery's compliance team asked the store owner about the incident. According to a lottery official, the owner admitted that he took the ticket and had not cashed it yet.
The ticket was located and brought to the customer who originally purchased it.
Melrose police and Massachusetts State Police have been provided with information on the incident by Massachusetts State Lottery.
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