A Timberlake man finally got his lottery winnings—but it wasn’t as simple as just claiming a check. Carl McCain hit four numbers in the November 4 Mega Millions drawing, earning $800. “It was a four-times winner, so that’s $800 I won,” he said.
Because of the prize size, McCain had to travel from his home in Timberlake to the North Carolina Education Lottery’s regional office in Raleigh. “I filled out the form, gave them my ticket, and just sat down and waited,” he recalled.
But instead of receiving a check, McCain was handed paperwork explaining that under the North Carolina State Lottery Act, if a winner owes a debt to state or local agencies, lottery winnings—minus taxes—can be applied to that debt.
McCain said he had never owed any such debts. “I said, well, I’ve never been there before. I don’t know anybody there,” he explained.
A lottery employee told him the alleged debts were tied to Lenoir County and Wayne County. McCain contacted both counties, gave his name and birthdate, and was told there was no debt. But when he provided his Social Security number, things got stranger. “Another man’s number is hitting off your Social Security number,” he was told—something he had never heard of before.
After waiting more than a month for answers with no luck, McCain decided to call ABC11 Troubleshooter Diane Wilson. “I told my wife, ‘We need to call Diane Wilson. I’ve seen her get refrigerators and washing machines for people—why can’t she get $800 for me?’” he said.
ABC11 reached out to the North Carolina Education Lottery, which confirmed McCain’s winnings had been processed properly and sent to Lenoir County. Representatives in Lenoir County admitted they had been investigating the issue for over a month. Shortly after Wilson’s inquiry, McCain finally got some relief: “They erased my Social Security number out of their databank,” he said.
Within days, McCain received his check for the $800 prize, minus the required taxes. “I was glad that you intervened and came to my rescue,” he told Wilson.
Lenoir County says the debt tied to McCain’s Social Security number dates back more than ten years and may have been a case of mistaken identity. It’s still unclear how the mix-up happened.
✅ Key Takeaways:
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McCain matched four Mega Millions numbers—$800 win.
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Lottery winnings can be withheld if debts are flagged.
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Mistaken identity tied to Social Security caused delays.
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Intervention by a local troubleshooter helped resolve the issue.
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