James Hines Jr. of Greensboro said he has never been more excited in his life after he scratched off a $100,000 lottery prize Monday night.

“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing,” he said.

Hines, a 50-year-old mail carrier, bought his lucky $30 Fabulous Fortune scratch-off from the E Quick Shop on Spring Garden Street in Greensboro. He then took his ticket to his car and started scratching.

“I thought maybe my eyes were deceiving me,” he recalled.

Hines said he needed to take a minute to calm down.

“I had to try to compose myself,” he laughed. “That’s the most excited I have ever been.”

Hines arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $71,259.

He said he will use the money to pay some bills.

Fabulous Fortune debuted in July with six $3 million prizes and 18 $100,000 prizes. One $3 million top prize and five $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program educates and empowers North Carolinians to make smart decisions when they play the lottery. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the lottery highlights Play Smart to help ensure when North Carolinians play the lottery it doesn’t become more than a game. Visit nclottery.com/PlaySmart to learn how the Play Smart program helps someone create a game plan to keep lottery play fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.