Charlotte woman’s love of crosswords results in $150,000 win

Tiffany Griffin’s fondness for crossword puzzles paid off when she uncovered the first $150,000 top prize in a new crossword-themed scratch-off.

“I’ve always loved doing crossword puzzles,” Griffin said. “The crossword scratch-offs are the only ones I buy.”

Griffin, a Charlotte resident, bought her $5 Cashword Multiplier ticket from BP Food Mart on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte.

“I thought I won $500 at first,” Griffin said. “I called my boyfriend and told him and he told me to look at it real carefully.”

Griffin, 42, said she looked again and started seeing new letters she hadn’t scratched yet.

“I have never experienced anything like that before,” she said. “I had to take a second to breathe.”

Griffin collected her prize at lottery headquarters Friday and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $106,516.

She said she would use her winnings to pay some bills and do some home repairs.

Cashword Multiplier debuted in August with six $150,000 prizes. Five $150,000 prizes remain to be claimed.