A California lottery player has landed a $3.665 million windfall after matching five numbers in the latest Mega Millions draw, with the winning ticket purchased at Chill Out Smoke Shop on Sepulveda Boulevard in Torrance.

The winner, whose identity remains undisclosed, matched all five main numbers (4, 13, 52, 53, and 69) but missed the Mega Ball, which was 10. Still enough to trigger a seven-figure payout. The odds? One in 12.6 million, according to California Lottery data. Remarkably long, frankly.

A second Match 5 winner also emerged in New Jersey during the same draw. No jackpot winner stepped forward, so the top prize has now rolled over to $70 million ahead of Friday’s draw.

Previous Jackpot Winner Claimed $536 Million

The last Mega Millions jackpot was won on 10th March when a player using the pseudonym “Lucky Lady” claimed a substantial $536 million prize. That winner chose to remain anonymous, a right afforded to lottery winners in California and several other states.

The retailer that sold the winning ticket, located at 4437 Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite B, will receive a bonus payment for selling the winning entry. Standard practice in California Lottery promotions.

Lottery Officials Warn of Rising Scam Activity

The California State Lottery has issued fresh warnings about scammers exploiting the heightened interest around large jackpots. Officials report a surge in fraudulent activity, with con artists impersonating lottery representatives or posing as affiliates of recent winners.

These scams typically involve unsolicited calls, texts, or emails claiming the recipient has won a prize. Victims are then told they must pay upfront fees, taxes, or processing charges before they can claim their winnings. The scammers often create artificial urgency to pressure targets into acting quickly.

California Lottery officials have made it clear that legitimate prize notifications are never sent out of the blue. The organisation does not initiate contact via email, text, direct message, or phone call to inform players of a win. Winners are also never required to pay any fees in advance to collect their money. Worth knowing.

The next Mega Millions draw takes place on Friday, 27th March. The jackpot now stands at $70 million.