Urgent Powerball warning to complete 3 steps if you bought ticket at truck stop – unclaimed $100k prize expires in days

EVERYBODY who plays the lottery dreams of hitting big money, but one winner may never collect their winnings if they don’t act soon.

An unknown person in Pennsylvania has a winning lottery ticket worth $100,000 .

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Last year, the winning ticket was purchased at Pilot Travel Center in West Hanover Township.

But the ticket remains unclaimed and is set to expire soon.

Matching four out of the five white balls drawn, 2-24-34-53-58, and the red Powerball at 13, to win $100,000.

The ticket would have been worth $50,000 if the player had not included the power-play option.

Matching the 13 on the red Powerball doubled the winnings.

But it may be for nothing if the winner doesn’t act soon and claim their prize money.

The winner must file a prize claim with the state lottery department by mail or at a Lottery Area Office by Wednesday, July 10.

But this person is not alone in potentially losing a massive amount of money.

In South Carolina , a winning $130,000 Palmetto Cash 5 lottery ticket was sold at a SuperMart in Timmonsville.

The ticket matched all five numbers drawn that weekend and is the sixth rolling jackpot win in South Carolina, according to lottery officials.

And that winner has yet to claim their prize either.

This lucky person still has 180 days from the initial date of the drawing to claim their prize, but time is ticking.

Meanwhile, somebody else in Arizona won $50,000 and has yet to claim their prize .

State lottery officials said the ticket was purchased at a Circle K convenience store in Springerville, about 200 miles east of Phoenix.

The winning digits were: 28-38-52-54-68 with a Powerball of 8.

But perhaps the one that would hurt the most, is an unclaimed Mega Millions ticket worth $2.9 million in California .

The ticket expired this weekend, as nobody claimed the prize in time.

The winning numbers were 8, 23, 44, 45, and 53, just missing the Mega Number 3.

But it isn’t all bad, however.

Since the ticket went unclaimed, California will invest the almost $3 million from the winnings into the state’s public schools .

Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?

Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?

The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.

Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.

Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.

Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.

Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.

Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity .