Powerball Authority Thwarts Fake Ticket Claim

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – (PRESS RELEASE) -- A Carlisle man faces charges of forgery and theft by deception in connection with a failed attempt to use a fake Powerball ticket to claim an $853,492 prize. The ticket scam failed when the forged ticket couldn't pass the Lottery's validation tests.

Brian Scott Miller, 34, of Pheasant Drive South, Carlisle, was arrested Monday at Lottery headquarters by Swatara Township and Lower Swatara Township police when he tried to pick up his winnings.

"The Pennsylvania Lottery's comprehensive security procedures make forging a winning Lottery ticket virtually impossible," said Gregory C. Fajt, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. "Mr. Miller's fake ticket couldn't pass even one of the Lottery's validation tests."

Miller attempted to claim a second prize from the record-setting Oct. 19 Powerball drawing. A bonus pool in effect for that drawing had boosted the second prize to $853,492. The normal second prize for Powerball is $200,000.

Ten legitimate winning second prize tickets were sold in Pennsylvania for the Oct. 19 drawing. All ten have been validated. None were sold in central Pennsylvania.

Miller completed and signed a claim form at Lottery headquarters in Middletown on Oct. 21. When Lottery security officials determined that the ticket was forged, the Revenue Department's Office of Criminal Investigations conducted a preliminary investigation. The results of the Revenue Department investigation were turned over to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution.

Fajt said an investigation into the forged ticket is continuing.