Westland, Michigan – A Michigan woman’s life changed forever after she almost ignored a phone call she thought was a scam — only to discover it was the Michigan Lottery calling to tell her she had just become a millionaire.
The Call That Changed Everything
For 65-year-old Valerie Williams of Westland, the call came completely out of the blue. She had been scanning a few non-winning Electric Family tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app when she unknowingly entered a second-chance giveaway.
“I was scanning my Electric tickets on the Michigan Lottery app to check them, but it wasn’t until a few days later that I realized I earned entries into a second-chance giveaway,” Williams said in a press release from the Michigan Lottery.
Days later, when an incoming call popped up on her phone from a number identified as the Michigan Lottery, her first instinct was to ignore it.
“I was hesitant to answer because I assumed it was a scam,” she admitted. “But I ended up answering to see what it was about — and I was shocked to find out that I was chosen as a contestant in the $1,000,000 Electric Giveaway!”
The Live Event at Comerica Park
Williams was one of five randomly selected finalists invited to the live event on September 19 at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Michigan Lottery hosted the Electric Giveaway in partnership with the Detroit Tigers, giving five lucky players a chance to win the $1 million grand prize during a live spin of the wheel held between innings of the Tigers vs. Atlanta Braves game.
Each of the five contestants was assigned a color on a giant spinning wheel, with one color determining the winner. Williams’ color was green.
As the crowd of baseball fans watched, the wheel began to spin — and in just a few moments that must have felt like forever, it landed squarely on green.
“No Way!” — The Moment of Realization
“All I kept thinking to myself was: ‘No way!’” Williams recalled. “It was such a great feeling, and I’m still in shock.”
The Michigan Lottery shared a video clip of the event on its social media platforms, showing the crowd erupting in cheers as Williams realized she had just won $1 million.
The moment has since become one of the year’s most memorable lottery stories in Michigan — a reminder that sometimes, life-changing luck can arrive in the most unexpected ways.
A Second-Chance Jackpot
Williams’ win came through the Michigan Lottery’s Electric Family game, which allows players to scan non-winning tickets in the lottery’s mobile app for entry into additional second-chance drawings.
These second-chance promotions have grown increasingly popular in recent years, offering players another opportunity to win even after their initial ticket didn’t pay off. The Michigan Lottery says the program encourages participation while giving loyal players more ways to engage.
In this case, five finalists were chosen from thousands of entries statewide. Each received a trip to Detroit for the live drawing at Comerica Park, where one of them would walk away with the million-dollar prize.
Caution and Excitement
Williams’ story struck a chord with many lottery players who have grown wary of scams. Across the country, fake lottery calls and emails are a common problem — so much so that many real winners initially think they’re being targeted by fraudsters.
The Michigan Lottery reminded players that it never asks for payment or personal financial information to claim a prize and encouraged players to verify all official communications through its website or customer service line.
Still, in Valerie’s case, answering that call made all the difference.
What’s Next for the Winner
Williams has not yet announced specific plans for her winnings but said she’s still processing the reality of her newfound fortune.
“It’s surreal,” she said. “You play these games for fun, but you never really expect something like this to happen to you.”
With her win, she joins the growing list of Michigan residents who’ve taken home major prizes this year. The Michigan Lottery has awarded more than $1.8 billion in prizes in 2025 alone, with proceeds going toward public education and community programs statewide.
Have you ever ignored a phone call thinking it was a scam — only to find out it was something real? Share your thoughts and local stories in the comments at hamiltonpawprint.com.
