Florida woman mistaken for lottery winner

May 6, 2011, 1:13 pm (53 comments)

Florida Lottery

Similar name to real winner leads to many phone calls, text messages

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A Port St. Lucie woman said she is being mistaken for a Florida Lottery scratch-off game winner because they share a similar name.

Tammy Henry Jordan said her phone has been ringing off the hook, and her text messages are piling up.

Jordan said it seems people are confusing her with a Jupiter woman named Tammy Henry, who recently won $2 million.

"My name is Tammy Henry Jordan," Jordan told WPBF 25 News. "Her name is Tammy Henry. She's 43. I'm 44. She lives in Jupiter. I live in Port St. Lucie."

Jordan even filled a police report, because the callers are threatening to come to her home and collect some of the cash.

"I've been receiving congratulations phone calls," Jordan said. "I've been receiving threatening phone calls. 'I know you won.' 'You don't have to lie.' 'We know where you live.'"

Jordan said she is scared someone may show up at her home and is staying with family members.

"I guess this is the honey-comb hideout," Jordan's sister, Felicia Vickers, said.

Jordan said she's telling everybody she isn't the winner, but they don't believe her. She said she has a plan if she ever does win.

"She won $2 million," Jordan said of the real winner. "I think God is preparing me for $10 million, so therefore when I win $10 million I know not to tell anybody."

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Thanks to B$Rizzle for the tip.

WPBF

Comments

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Congratulations to the winner. I didn't know there was a mistake.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

I'm glad that WPBF indicated what a "threatening" phone call sounds like, that it isn't rare, and that there are a lot of people who believe they are entitled to another person's resources (and each believer is not clinically insane).

time*treat's avatartime*treat

The threatening calls should be promptly turned over to the cops; let them do something useful for a change.

I wouldn't want calls/texts from anyone I hadn't been talking to before.

ameriken

"I think God is preparing me for $10 million, so therefore when I win $10 million I know not to tell anybody"

 

And that my friends, is the moral of the story. 

TELL NO ONE!

Unfortunately, you can count on the lottery commission to release your name to the public. Angry

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

'I know you won.' 'You don't have to lie.' 'We know where you live.'

Unbelievable.

I would respond to that phone call by inviting the callers over and introducing them to my good friend Sam Colt and my buddies, Smith and Wesson.

tbraddock

This is why all lotteries should let people claim their winnings anonymously!!!

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Twitchits stories like this that make me give serious thought about not playing at all  Surrender

James1's avatarJames1

I dont get it. If you win $250,000 in Florida you are home safe and anonymous but if you oh so happen to win $1 Million + , your life is in danger ...

WTG Fl lotto. It wont be long until you get another winner killed !!

asd123

I don't get it. Did this woman receive threats because the winner told a lot of people? Would I be safe with 1 million+ as long as I don't tell anyone?

CAL-LottoPlayer

I didn't realize lottery winners were harassed to this extent, even mistaken identity ones.  I am really surprised it's this bad.  It really goes to show you, you must be careful who you tell. I guess I was right when I said, IF I ever won, I would move away and leave no forwarding address.

But to be truthful with everyone, the chances of winning are virtually none.  As such, I have cut way back on my playing.  I rarely ever play the long odds games anymore.  I hardly even play the 5/5 game here in California.  I haven't quit, I've just cut back.

asd123

Quote: Originally posted by asd123 on May 6, 2011

I don't get it. Did this woman receive threats because the winner told a lot of people? Would I be safe with 1 million+ as long as I don't tell anyone?

or were these people just calling random lottery winners, asking for money. Basically, I want to know if this is a problem the winner could have prevented. (by not telling anybody)

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on May 6, 2011

'I know you won.' 'You don't have to lie.' 'We know where you live.'

Unbelievable.

I would respond to that phone call by inviting the callers over and introducing them to my good friend Sam Colt and my buddies, Smith and Wesson.

Thumbs Up......this is why you go Anonymous...there are some sick people in the world

sully16's avatarsully16

This is scary stuff, I hope she find peace.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

You would be surpised how many nut cases come out of the wood work and actually believe they are entitled to some parts of a winner's money whether they know them or not.  The threats..treat them like they are REAL!!

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