Florida woman mistaken for lottery winner

Comment #53

dk1421 — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:34:34 GMT

Over a decade ago, a man killed another man over the last hotdog on the grill.

People will kill over $25, much less $200,000.

Comment #52

sandia — Wed, 11 May 2011 01:08:54 GMT

I need to buy THAT sign for my front electric fence, I do not hunt but I shall make a special waivers for the brave/stupid ones who pepetrate threats and harm to me and mine.

LOL, thanks dpoly, you made by day

Comment #51

ameriken — Tue, 10 May 2011 17:28:31 GMT

On the other hand, I can also see lotteries wanting and needing to make the winners public. If everyone was anonymous, then the public might suspect the Lotteries were faking winners and scamming the public. So I can see the need to make winners public.

However, there has to be a happy medium for those who request anonymity.

Comment #50

myturn — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:54:54 GMT

This is exactly why lotteries should allow winners to remain anonymous

Comment #49

sully16 — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:31:03 GMT

Our local hardware store has a sign that says Free police car rides , if you steal from us

Comment #48

dr65 — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:43:32 GMT

LOL! That's a good one.

Comment #47

rdgrnr — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:13:39 GMT

Yeah, could be she was just trying to create her own 15 minutes of fame and it backfired or she's making the whole thing up.

Comment #46

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:11:09 GMT

A nearby Taxidermy shop has a sign that says If you are found here at night, you will be found here in the morning

We target practice regularly around here, not wise to show up after a threat

Comment #45

imagine — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:20:58 GMT

Hopefully she gets left alone now.

Comment #44

asd123 — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:21:53 GMT

that's what I meant from the beginning; something isn't right and there IS a chance that she made it up because she wanted to have a little fun. Random strangers don't go harassing 2 million dollar winners.

Comment #43

Stack47 — Sun, 08 May 2011 21:44:58 GMT

I was wondering about that too because if lots of people are harassing someone with a similar name, you would think the winner is getting lots of phone calls too. The story says nothing about the real winner.

Comment #42

dr65 — Sun, 08 May 2011 18:56:57 GMT

$2 Million? The hooplah will die down and she'll be forgotten. If it's bothering her that much she can change

her phone numbers. And the death threats? Come on now...it's not $200 Million. Yeah, yeah people have

been killed for less but this story just seems too sensational for the non-winner.

Comment #41

asd123 — Sun, 08 May 2011 17:15:18 GMT

not saying that this is fact, just throwing it out there as a possibility (looks suspicious):My theory:

This woman is a regular reader of the Florida Lottery's Press Releases. When she opens the story from may 4, she finds a woman with the same name as her and decides to make up a story.

Reason behind theory: if this woman isn't the winner, then who exactly were the people who harassed her? were they people who knew the winner or the woman?(after all they knew her cell phone number).... [ More ]

Comment #40

RJOh — Sun, 08 May 2011 16:32:06 GMT

Simply having a decent job is reason enough for some people to come knocking at your door asking for money.

Comment #39

PrisonerSix — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:10:46 GMT

I feel bad for her, but she is probably learning now who her real friends are.

Considering I read once that an man in the U.S. who won told of how he had gotten a phone call from Indonesia asking for money, no story would surprise me.

Comment #38

Coin Toss — Sun, 08 May 2011 04:56:38 GMT

It doesn't matter if you personally haven't told anyone, once it's publicized it's out there. On one of TLC's lottery programs a jackpot winner from New Mexico said complete strangers were contacting him and asking to be sponsored in the World Series of Poker or cover their credit card spending when one ran up $75,000 in charges for Chrsitmas.

Comment #37

kalikgirl — Sun, 08 May 2011 04:31:46 GMT

Its a pity that winners have to endure the numerous phone calls and threatening ones too at that it is aweful~

You too could be a Winner if you play! Others are taking a chance for themselves

Comment #36

sully16 — Sun, 08 May 2011 02:51:13 GMT

Good catch, If your getting texts , it's someone you know.

Comment #35

rdgrnr — Sat, 07 May 2011 23:42:33 GMT

God blessed Texas with His own hand

Brought down angels from the promised land

Gave 'em a place where they could dance

If you wanna see heaven brother here's your chance

I've been sent to spread the message

God blessed Texas

Comment #34

ttech10 — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:54:15 GMT

+1.

I live in a house with two roommates and we all have guns. If I were to win the lottery I would likely stay here until the rent agreement is up and though I plan on collecting through a blind trust, if my name did get out I wouldn't be too worried about someone coming to my house trying to do something.

Comment #33

asd123 — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:38:04 GMT

either because they commited suicide after financial and family troubles or because someone killed them after they blabbed their win to everybody. Basically if you win and don't tell anybody, you should be fine.

Comment #32

rdgrnr — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:33:23 GMT

Imagine what the people who have the last name of Hitler must go through on a daily basis.

Yer dern tootin!

Imagine what life has been like for me with a name like Benito Mussolini!

Ain't too many backwoods country boys with a name like that.

I went through hell with this name!

Me and my brother Tojo are both thinking about gettin our names changed.

Comment #31

GamerMom — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:44:21 GMT

I am sure if lottery winners would be harrassed like this woman was, then it would end up on the news.

um real lottery winners have DIED because they won the lottery.

Comment #30

asd123 — Sat, 07 May 2011 16:26:40 GMT

something's not right with this story... you don't hear about real lottery winners such as Richard Lustig being harrassed and threatened. I am sure if lottery winners would be harrassed like this woman was, then it would end up on the news.

Comment #29

GYM RICE — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:40:47 GMT

Imagine what the people who have the last name of Hitler must go through on a daily basis. Whats kinda stange about the story is this person who didn't win actually went public and brought more attention to herself. She's begging to be trolled by some professionals now.

Comment #28

savagegoose — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:02:02 GMT

who needs to win lotto? you just need to have same name, or eeep buy a house off of a winner who doesnt tell you. to be murdered in your sleep.

no blind trust would help in this situation, and worse no winningsa to disappear with.

and you are more likely to have the same name as someone who wins than actually win yourself

i base that on the odds of having someone with the same name out there. meaning that nime is more likely to win than you. as there are at least 2 of that name.

Comment #27

BaristaExpress — Sat, 07 May 2011 12:41:21 GMT

And the only way around that problem is to have an out of state trust claim the winnings! FL then has no right to any information from the other states' secretary who receives and files said trust in that state! Problem Solved!!!!!!!!

No state has any rights to information from another states' secretary for trust filings, unless that state that's asking for said information can show some sort of fraud is being commited and then they are going to need a court order to get said information! Nev... [ More ]

Comment #26

joshuacloak — Sat, 07 May 2011 06:21:29 GMT

leave it at that, o hell no, i hate people giving people wrong idea's

the fact is once money in a legal trust, you can firewall any winner real identity

, in this case, i can even side step any insane florida law's while am at it to prove my point

how it would be done.

corporation claims pb in Florida, your record laws can find out its Owned by x Trust, the trustie , will just be a Lawyer!

will congrats you know the lawyer , now he being paid to not tell you who the real ben... [ More ]

Comment #25

B$Rizzle — Sat, 07 May 2011 03:16:25 GMT

GameGirl - I Understand that, however FL laws can be and probably are quite different here than in PA regarding business filings with the state. No matter how someone in FL wants their DBA (Doing Business As) name to be, it is still registered to an actual legal name ( person ). That person can easily be unveiled by a simple search on the Division of Corporation site established in FL. A ficticious name is just another way of saying Doing Business As , so a person can create an actual business n... [ More ]

Comment #24

time*treat — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:58:12 GMT

People calling your cell phone usually either already know you or know someone close to you.

What she has found out is how many jerks are in/near her inner circle.

Comment #23

mightwin — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:52:10 GMT

LOL You got that right!! Or better yet I'd hook up some good ole electricity to the metal screen door, not to much but just enough to watch em yelp!!!! Come on over I'm the lottery winner.

Comment #22

TheGameGrl — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:35:56 GMT

Where the information goes off kilter B$Rizzle, is that the company owner can be Huckleberry Finn ( Fictious name) , Trust can and are set up that way to protect the body of interest, be it a trust fund baby or en endowment to an institution. Sorry but Florida doesnt waste months tracking things down that are sealed by the courts for good reason. The Florida Lottery can be sited for this by the Trust entity . Some records are sealed and cannot be opened to public knowledge even on awards given s... [ More ]

Comment #21

RJOh — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:12:56 GMT

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.'

If she's not careful she could end up like the Florida lottery winner Abraham Shakespear by mistake.

The women charged with his murder claims she was only trying to steal his money and home and has no idea how he ended up buried in her back yard under a concrete pad.... [ More ]

Comment #20

nickey t — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:57:41 GMT

exactly .. i wish they would try me! Todd, please find a gun toting emoticon for us [registered] gun owners

Comment #19

B$Rizzle — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:53:00 GMT

Joshua, although most of what you said is in fact TRUE, there is a false assumption that you listed.

Even if a person in FL files the claim under a trust, the FL lottery can and WILL release the sole proprietor of that trust aka; persons name.

So a person can try and hide behind a company name all they want, but the FL Lottery will check out the owner of the trust, corporation, company etc and release the owner of that entity in their press release.

Comment #18

Crunchiesbabe — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:16:15 GMT

LOL. That's exactly what I was thinking

Comment #17

Stack47 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:53:34 GMT

That might be good advice for Tammy Henry Jordan of Port St. Lucie if she wins lots of money in the lottery, but the problem here is Tammy Henry of Jupiter won the money. Life certainly would have been much easier for Jordan had Henry claimed her $2 million scratch-off ticket using a trust, but she didn't.

Telling everybody with a common name to get an unlisted phone number just in case someone with a similar sounding name wins a jackpot would be better advice.

Comment #16

joshuacloak — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:34:27 GMT

just a little fyi, you can remain anonymous, you just can't use the trust path in A dirct way.

you can however, use the corporation or llc purchased the tickets path

and be anonymous via A trust as the solo Owner of say whatever said corporation claims, Hot ! Mwahahahaha

don't let what the florida lottery says or what ever idiot thinks tell you otherwise, their also a option.

you see, the united states supreme court, bless their stupid little hearts, said corporations are in fac... [ More ]

Comment #15

B$Rizzle — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:49:36 GMT

I wish in all states people could remain anonymous. Here in FL we cant

Comment #14

Littleoldlady — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:04:05 GMT

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

Comment #13

sully16 — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:36:11 GMT

This is scary stuff, I hope she find peace.

Comment #12

dallascowboyfan — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:30:25 GMT

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

Comment #11

asd123 — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:15:50 GMT

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

Comment #10

CAL-LottoPlayer — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:10:13 GMT

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 i... [ More ]

Comment #9

asd123 — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:09:35 GMT

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

Comment #8

James1 — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:06:46 GMT

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

Comment #7

hearsetrax — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:01:04 GMT

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

Comment #6

tbraddock — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:59:29 GMT

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

Comment #5

rdgrnr — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:00:04 GMT

'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.

Comment #4

ameriken — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:49:52 GMT

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.

Comment #3

time*treat — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:44:34 GMT

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.

Comment #2

HaveABall — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:42:42 GMT

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).

Comment #1

ressuccess — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:01:10 GMT

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

Florida woman mistaken for lottery winner

Lottery Post — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:13:47 GMT

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

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 T... [ More ]