North Carolina woman thought she’d been scammed, then called lottery. She won big.

Joe Marusak
·1 min read

Janique Ebanks of Concord thought she’d been scammed. The caller said she’d won the $100,00 prize in the 2021 Multiply the Cash Second-Chance drawing, NC lottery officials said Friday.

So she called lottery headquarters in Raleigh and learned, yes, it was true.

“You know, I didn’t believe it at first,” Ebanks told officials when she claimed her prize at lottery headquarters on Friday, according to a lottery news release. “I thought, ‘This must be a scam!’ I had to call and verify.”

Ebanks beat over 30 million entries in the April 7 drawing, according to the lottery. The odds of her win weren’t available on Friday.

After taxes, she took home $70,750, officials said. She didn’t say what she’ll do with the earnings.

Eight players won $5,000, and 25 won $500, officials said.

Winners of second-chance drawings are notified via phone or email.

The next 2021 Multiply The Cash second-chance drawing is June 9.