A convenience store in upstate New York just sold a winning Take 5 ticket worth more than $30,000, and the winner has not come forward yet. For shoppers in Port Jefferson Station, that is a reminder to check the tickets sitting in a wallet, a glove compartment, or a kitchen drawer. It is also a chance to separate what people assume about lottery prizes from what is actually true.
Myth: You have to pay money up front to claim a lottery prize
One of the most persistent myths about lottery winnings is that you must pay a fee, a tax, or some other charge before you can collect your prize. It is a convenient story for scammers, who contact people out of the blue and claim they have won a jackpot they never entered.
Here's the catch: they'll tell you that you need to pay a fee, taxes, or some other charge before you can collect your prize.
Fact: Legitimate lottery winners never pay a fee to claim
A real New York Lottery win does not require you to hand over money first. The official guidance is direct: winners never have to pay to collect what they have earned, and you cannot win a lottery you never entered simply because a message arrived in your inbox.
Legitimate lottery winners never have to pay a fee to claim their winnings. And you can't win a lottery you never entered by simply receiving a random email or text.
Myth: An old ticket is probably not worth checking
It is easy to assume a ticket bought weeks ago is just a piece of paper. But unclaimed prizes happen more often than people think, and a ticket forgotten in a cup holder can still be valuable. A quick check takes only a moment and could turn that scrap of paper into a real prize.
Fact: A store near you just sold a $30,000 Take 5 winner
A lucky Take 5 ticket is worth more than $30,000, and someone in Central New York just sold one. The winning ticket, worth $30,080.50, was sold at Cliff's Local Market on 8429 State Route 69, in Oriskany. The winning numbers were 11 – 15 – 22 – 28 – 29.
If you bought a ticket in Oneida County, you might want to check those numbers. The same lesson applies to anyone who plays the lottery in Port Jefferson Station: a convenience store here sells tickets too, and the next winner could be holding one without realizing it.
What to do now
- Gather any Take 5 or scratch-off tickets you have not checked yet.
- Compare your numbers against the official results rather than guessing.
- Remember that you never pay a fee or tax up front to claim a genuine prize.
- If someone contacts you claiming you won a lottery you never entered, treat it as a scam.
The best way to make sure you have got a winner
The most reliable way to confirm a ticket is to check the official New York Lottery website. A quick look there can turn an old ticket into an unexpected payday, and it costs nothing to find out.
The best way to make sure you've got a winner is to check the official New York Lottery website.
Pick up your next ticket close to home
Long Island Convenience Store is right here in Port Jefferson Station, open to serve neighbors at any hour. Whether you are picking up a Take 5 ticket, a scratch-off, or everyday essentials, it is the local place to buy.
Because the store is open around the clock, you can stop by after work, early in the morning, or whenever you remember an unchecked ticket. The staff can help you find the right game, and there is no fee to check a ticket. See what we carry, then plan your visit.
Sources
- Take 5 Winner in Oriskany Scores $30,000 in NY Lottery, CNY News, October 30, 2026
- New York Lottery: Official Site, New York Lottery