Tampa Clerk Accused of Calling $1,000 Lottery Ticket a $5 Winner

Imagine handing a store clerk a winning lottery ticket, being told it is worth only $5, and walking away without realizing you were actually holding $1,000. State lottery investigators say that is exactly what a Tampa clerk attempted to make happen during an undercover operation, except the supposed customer already knew the ticket’s real value.

The investigation unfolded on August 19th at Zoya Shell, located at 3602 West Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. According to officials, an undercover agent entered the store and handed clerk Amar Yasser Hamden a winning ticket worth $1,000, a losing ticket and two energy drinks. What happened next turned an ordinary transaction into a test of whether a lottery retailer could be trusted with someone else’s winning ticket.

Investigators Say the Clerk Claimed the Ticket Was Worth Just $5

Officials say Hamden scanned the winning ticket using the store’s lottery terminal. The system then produced a player claim instructions receipt showing that the prize exceeded $599. Despite that confirmation, investigators allege Hamden told the undercover agent that the ticket was worth only $5 and kept possession of the $1,000 ticket.

The accusation raises an uncomfortable question for anyone who has ever relied on a clerk to check a lottery ticket. If the person behind the counter gives you the wrong amount, would you know enough to challenge it? In this case, investigators allege Hamden intended to claim the winning ticket later, potentially turning someone else’s $1,000 prize into his own payday.

When agents identified themselves and questioned Hamden about the missing ticket, officials say he initially claimed that he had thrown it away. Investigators later reported finding both the $1,000 winning ticket and the printed claim instructions inside his vehicle.

Lottery Activity Suspended at the Tampa Store

Following the investigation, all lottery activity at the Gandy Boulevard retailer was suspended and its lottery inventory was removed. Hamden was issued a Notice to Appear for allegedly violating Florida law involving the unlawful assignment or transfer of the right to claim a lottery prize.

The incident is also a sharp reminder for Florida Lottery players to protect their tickets and confirm their results independently before handing them over. A prize worth $1,000 should never disappear because a player trusted the wrong answer at the counter.