Convenience Store Owners Give Back $1 Million Lotto Ticket To Person Who Threw It Out

Convenience Store Owners Give Back $1 Million Lotto Ticket To Person Who Threw It Out


June 2, 2021 | Eul Basa

Convenience Store Owners Give Back $1 Million Lotto Ticket To Person Who Threw It Out


That's some really good karma—Abhi Shah, a convenience store owner in Southwick, Massachusetts, gave back a lotto ticket worth $1 million to the person who had thrown it away.

During one of her shifts at the Lucky Stop store, she went through the pile of discarded scratch-offs and discovered that one of them was actually a winning ticket. She initially thought about keeping the ticket for herself and using the money to buy a Tesla or even another store, but she ultimately felt that giving the ticket back was the right thing to do.

"We had mixed emotions. We didn't sleep for two nights, but I don't know what happened," Shah explained to The Washington Post. "My inner soul told me, 'That's not right. You know who that person is. You should give that ticket back to them.' And that's exactly what I did."

It turned out that the owner of the ticket was actually a regular customer of her family's store since they bought it five years ago. Lea Rose Fiega, an insurance worker whose office is located near the store, makes frequent visits during her lunch break to buy scratch-offs. Usually, when the tickets don't win, she hands them back to the Shahs, who then leave them in a discard pile.

In March of this year, Fiega purchased a scratch-off for $30, then gave it back to Shah's mother who was working in the store at the time. She thought it was just another valueless ticket...until ten days later, the Shahs realized the ticket wasn't entirely scratched off.

"I was in a hurry, on lunch break, and just scratched it real quick, and looked at it, and it didn’t look like a winner, so I handed it over to them to throw away,” Fiega told the Associated Press.

The Shahs discussed their options before deciding to give the ticket back to Fiega. They even called their relatives in India for advice, and they all told them that they should return it to her. In their situation, perhaps a clear conscience is worth more than any amount of money.

They planned to give the ticket back to Fiega the next time she came by the store, but when she never showed up, Shah drove to her office. Fiega was surprised to see her there and she had no idea what was going on. Then Shah told her: "It's something that's going to change your life," and the rest is history.

Fiega was so thankful for the Shahs' honesty that she gifted them some of the winnings which she initially planned to save for her retirement. The Shahs also received $10,000 from the Massachusetts Lottery for selling the ticket.

"It was a really great moment. Seeing her happy, I got so happy. I knew I did the right thing. I shouldn’t keep anybody’s money. Money is not everything in life."


READ MORE

Upgrades You Should Implement To Increase Your Property Value

The housing market is competitive, to say the least. If you want your home to stand out on the market, here are some things you can do to make it seem brand new.
December 19, 2024 Ethan Vestby
Last Will

Things You Need In Your Will That Too Many People Forget

Think your will is complete? Even the most carefully crafted ones often miss necessary elements that could leave your family in limbo. If you want it to be a peaceful ride, continue reading.
January 8, 2025 Miles Brucker

Simple Career Changes To Make More Money In 2025

If you're looking to change tracks in 2025 and jump into a new career but aren't looking to go back to school or spend time and money retraining in an entirely new profession, here are some career changes you can make to make more money next year.
January 1, 2025 Jack Hawkins

My husband hid over $100K in gambling debts while I thought he had the money invested. At 55, our retirement is off-track. What happens next?

It can be devastating to discover hidden debt if you're in your 50s, but there are steps you can take to protect your future and your retirement.
October 29, 2025 Sammy Tran

Laid Off In Your 50s: Strategies For Moving Forward

Losing your job is bad enough, but being laid off in your 50s hits especially hard. We look at strategies for getting back on track.
October 30, 2025 Alex Summers

My brother and I inherited Mom’s house, but he wants to sell it below market value so he can quickly pay off $60K in credit card debt. Now what?

Selling a newly inherited house below market value might be a quick way to pay off credit card debt, but one must not be hasty in selling a major asset.
November 10, 2025 Marlon Wright


Disclaimer

The information on MoneyMade.com is intended to support financial literacy and should not be considered tax or legal advice. It is not meant to serve as a forecast, research report, or investment recommendation, nor should it be taken as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or adopt any particular investment strategy. All financial, tax, and legal decisions should be made with the help of a qualified professional. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, or outcomes associated with the use of this content.





Dear reader,


It’s true what they say: money makes the world go round. In order to succeed in this life, you need to have a good grasp of key financial concepts. That’s where Moneymade comes in. Our mission is to provide you with the best financial advice and information to help you navigate this ever-changing world. Sometimes, generating wealth just requires common sense. Don’t max out your credit card if you can’t afford the interest payments. Don’t overspend on Christmas shopping. When ordering gifts on Amazon, make sure you factor in taxes and shipping costs. If you need a new car, consider a model that’s easy to repair instead of an expensive BMW or Mercedes. Sometimes you dream vacation to Hawaii or the Bahamas just isn’t in the budget, but there may be more affordable all-inclusive hotels if you know where to look.


Looking for a new home? Make sure you get a mortgage rate that works for you. That means understanding the difference between fixed and variable interest rates. Whether you’re looking to learn how to make money, save money, or invest your money, our well-researched and insightful content will set you on the path to financial success. Passionate about mortgage rates, real estate, investing, saving, or anything money-related? Looking to learn how to generate wealth? Improve your life today with Moneymade. If you have any feedback for the MoneyMade team, please reach out to [email protected]. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,

The Moneymade team