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ABC duped by Powerball lottery winner hoax
Powerball: ABC duped by Powerball lottery winner hoax
The brief hoax involving a man claiming to be an out-of-work truck driver who won the $365 million Powerball jackpot was months in the making. It involved two men who have jerked the chains of the national news media for years and was financed by a Texas author seeking publicity for his books, one of the pranksters said Tuesday. "We had decided that one of these days, there'll be a record jackpot, and we'll have to go," said Bob Pagani, who portrayed the unemployed man who spent $2,000 on Monday buying food for everyone at a Lincoln restaurant. Pagani said he is a former disc jockey and book editor who lives near Pacific City, Ore. He confessed Tuesday to the hoax but said he felt no guilt. "We spent a lot of money buying people's lunches. They had a thrill. . . . Nobody got hurt," he said. "It's kind of like a magic trick - a magician lies to you." Pagani walked into a Village Inn on Monday afternoon, announced that he was the winner and bought a round of meals. The news media were apparently summoned by a restaurant employee. "Good Morning America" and "World News Tonight," among others, did on-camera interviews with Pagani. Pagani said the hoax was hatched in conjunction with Alan Abel, a Connecticut prankster and drummer who started staging hoaxes in a 1959 appearance on the "Today" show, according to his Web site. "Every once in a while, he has a wild hair," Pagani said. He said the timing was per-fect because of the Presidents Day holiday. It closed the Nebraska Lottery office, delaying any official announcement. Because it was a record jackpot, a news media frenzy seemed guaranteed. The hoax started falling apart as reporters questioned discrepancies in Pagani's story, including how the ticket was purchased. He said he chose the numbers, but lottery officials said the winning ticket was a computer-generated "Quick Pick." Pagani said he flew in from Oregon on Sunday night and drove to Lincoln on Monday. Two other people, who said they were Pagani's son and niece, also flew in. Pagani said Joe Vitale, who identified himself as an Austin, Texas, author, financed the hoax - paying for the airline tickets and two nights of motel stays in Omaha, as well as the $2,000 for all the meals at Village Inn. Before he flew home Tuesday, Pagani said he gets the same thrill from hoaxes as someone who collects stamps. "With this, I can say I was in the New York Times, the Washington Post and on Good Morning America."
Omaha World-Herald
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57 comments. Last comment 4 years ago by .
Bethesda, Maryland United States Member #17193 June 6, 2005 432 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 1:06 pm - IP Logged |
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2/22/2006 Is it something in the AIR, THE WATER, OR THE CROPS....that made these idiots help put this scam together???????....only in America..........
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Miss Kitty georgia United States Member #14 November 9, 2001 20724 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 1:08 pm - IP Logged |
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pretty stupid.  love to nibble those micey feet.
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United States Member #6800 September 3, 2004 95 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 1:10 pm - IP Logged |
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Every idiot gets his 15mins of fame!! Kudos... now leave. . . .
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mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 10549 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 1:19 pm - IP Logged |
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Before he flew home Tuesday, Pagani said he gets the same thrill from hoaxes as someone who collects stamps. "With this, I can say I was in the New York Times, the Washington Post and on Good Morning America." Sounds like Pagani gets a thrill from running his big mouth and telling lies to make national news. When he compares it to collecting stamps, he's also lying to himself and believing it.
* What happens most *
* will most likely happen again *
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New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14577 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 1:25 pm - IP Logged |
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LOL! 
Maybe it's time someone or group of someones played a prank on the pranksters!
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Atlanta United States Member #16270 May 24, 2005 182 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 2:02 pm - IP Logged |
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You know, I don't agree with people getting mad, it actually is funny if it can be pulled off. As he said, a magician does magic. Kinda like Bill Clinton not having sexual relations with Monica, the guy writing the book Oprah supported, and George Bush and weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Those things are still debated, covered in the media, and this guy just had his time in the limelight. It is not worth getting bent out of shape over. And before anyone jumps on me, NO, I do not condone lying. This is a prank, plain and simple.
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Michigan United States Member #22730 September 24, 2005 946 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 2:27 pm - IP Logged |
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Pagani said he is a former disc jockey While this prank didn't fall under the "disgusting" category, I have seen/heard several pranks pulled by disc jockeys that are disgusting. Something should be done to those DJs to keep their pranks in the "suitable for families" range. Not that Howard Stern pulls pranks but I was all for the fines he got. That is what should happen to other DJs too. Common sense. Common decency. That is what should keep people from doing things like this. Other than that, do we write up a law banning pranks? truecritic -> When your dreams turn to dust, vacuum.
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Atlanta United States Member #16270 May 24, 2005 182 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 2:38 pm - IP Logged |
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I agree Truecritic, some of those are pretty bad and hurtful. This guy hurt no one, 200 people received a free meal, and the press jumped too quickly. Simple as that. The press received the "Dewey defeats Truman" award.
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USA United States Member #1883 July 15, 2003 269 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 3:50 pm - IP Logged |
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I love seeing the media duped. It's great. The media knows nothing or less than nothing and half the time they claim to know the truth. When they get duped it's a very funny day in my book. The media should do it's homework rather than try to sensationalize everything and everyone. The media is really the big scam artist here, don't feel sorry for them, if they researched the truth rather than publish the quick tabloid headlines everyday then they would find that the ruth cannot be hidden, it can always be found. Cheers,
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Atlanta, GA United States Member #1288 March 13, 2003 2632 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 5:19 pm - IP Logged |
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I love seeing the media duped. It's great. The media knows nothing or less than nothing and half the time they claim to know the truth. When they get duped it's a very funny day in my book. The media should do it's homework rather than try to sensationalize everything and everyone. The media is really the big scam artist here, don't feel sorry for them, if they researched the truth rather than publish the quick tabloid headlines everyday then they would find that the ruth cannot be hidden, it can always be found. Cheers,  Get the headline first, don't be concerned with accuracy.
The lazy MSM got exactly what they deserved this time. 
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Sparta, NJ United States Member #18644 July 9, 2005 1977 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 5:46 pm - IP Logged |
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I wonder if ABC hired the former Dan Rather fact checkers from CBS? Maybe it's time someone or group of someones played a prank on the pranksters! People love to see this sort of thing. Look how much Sterm is getting to make fools out of any American with ethics and integrity. The American public is paying him to do what he does. Not that Howard Stern pulls pranks but I was all for the fines he got. Actually, Stern did not pay a penny. His organization, and his insurance company, paid all the fines. Its like fining a Pro-football player $50K, then paying him $25M to show up. Write it of as an uninsured loss.
|||::> *'`*:-.,_,.-:*''*:--->>> Chewie <<<---.*''*:-.,_,.-:*''* <:::|||
I only trust myself - and that's a questionable choice
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United States Member #91 January 19, 2002 6299 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 6:57 pm - IP Logged |
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I love seeing the media duped. It's great. The media knows nothing or less than nothing and half the time they claim to know the truth. When they get duped it's a very funny day in my book. The media should do it's homework rather than try to sensationalize everything and everyone. The media is really the big scam artist here, don't feel sorry for them, if they researched the truth rather than publish the quick tabloid headlines everyday then they would find that the ruth cannot be hidden, it can always be found. Cheers, Get the headline first, don't be concerned with accuracy. The lazy MSM got exactly what they deserved this time.
I'd have to agree...News isn't really news anymore...It's what they heard someone say........Thats all they print or show........That and Paris Hilton!
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Indiana United States Member #29567 December 29, 2005 280 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 6:58 pm - IP Logged |
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Well I have no love for jokers, tricksters, game players and con artists but with regard to ABC (OR any other media outlet) getting duped all I can say is...KEWL! Jim
Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy. - Groucho Marx
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Michigan United States Member #22730 September 24, 2005 946 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 22, 2006, 7:03 pm - IP Logged |
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The media knows nothing or less than nothing So, you don't like the media? The ones that provide 99% of the news that you hear, see or read? if they researched the truth rather than publish the quick tabloid headlines everyday then they would find that the ruth cannot be hidden, it can always be found. REALLY? Just where does that truth pop out? Over the fence talking with a neighbor? Chewie Thanks for pointing that out to everyone that didn't know that the broadcasting companies get the fine. Seems like I remember Stern getting a personal fine as well? Regardless, the gist of all my comments are that people shouldn't behave badly in public just because they can. truecritic -> When your dreams turn to dust, vacuum.
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