Why it is important to remain anonymous

Reply #17

MegaWinner — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 04:27:58 GMT

Man look, when I win this mega millions jackpot tomorrow night, I AM moving out of the state before I even make the claim. My family and friends won't get their share until 2011 when there will be no estate/gift tax and I will fund their living expenses until then.

But as far as privacy goes, I have have a plan! I might be bothered for the first month or two but after that, you won't hear from me except when I post here from time to time.

Reply #16

justxploring — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:05:17 GMT

You win the lottery; you disconnect the phone, you buy disposable cell phones, you move to a better part of town, and a year later things are back to normal. You don't need to leave your town, but you WILL probably want a better home in a safer part of town anyway.

Of course, Guesser. I was only responding to what you wrote about staying in the same place and feeling safe. I could pack up and move 3 miles from my house and be in an entirely different neighborhood with celebrities as my nei... [ More ]

Reply #15

guesser — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:38:07 GMT

They print stories of lottery winners here: and they print followup stories of how they are doing months, and years later.

If you lived in a 'bad' part of a town, would you come home in a Mercedes ?

I lived in bad parts of towns, and you know the rules: you don't have anything of value, period. No big-screen TV's, no decent stereos, and no really new cars, all of those things either get stolen, or vandalized. It was years ago I lived in the bad end of LA.

You win the lottery; you disco... [ More ]

Reply #14

justxploring — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:31:05 GMT

Guesser, if you live in a safe, quiet town I would agree with you. Some people would not be safe if they won millions of dollars and the newspaper printed a story about it.

Reply #13

guesser — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 02:50:01 GMT

It doesn't matter where you live: it matters where the ticket was sold.

Use common sense and you won't be bothered - much - but it's nothing most people can't handle, trust me.

Reply #12

MegaWinner — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 02:23:38 GMT

I guess since I am in New Jersey, I have to immediately move and change my contact information. I would also change my name. I seriously do not want to be bothered.

Reply #11

guesser — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 02:19:28 GMT

PacAttack - no worries about me - I would not tell anyone to F--- themselves - that's asking for trouble, I'd find a more tactful way of saying basically the same thing - if I gave money to every person that wants it, I'd be broke tomorrow.

And for everyone that says they would have their Lawyers, Accountants, or teams of 'people' screening out those that want money, let me ask you: If you are looking for a handout from a lottery winner, how do you know WHO to contact ? Let's say I won it,... [ More ]

Reply #10

MADDOG10 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:03:39 GMT

No, I would'nt want to remain anonymous when I do win the lottery. I'll still go about my buisness the same as usual, except for the fact I wouldn't have to worry anymore.

I'd have a flyer drawn up and hand it to everyone in my family and to friends, saying I'd be more than willing to help someone out as long as you don't ask for a hand out. period....!

I do know for a fact, that there would be one hell of a party here for everyone at LP.....

Reply #9

tnlotto1 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:41:15 GMT

i agree with you rundown that this is the best site to discuss the lottery and learn more about it and todd has done a great thing and i like you post rundown and we all want to win the lottery and we will have to decide how we handle it when it happens...

Reply #8

justxploring — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:40:25 GMT

I feel the same way about anonymity after a lottery win that I do about my own privacy now. It's none of anyone's business how I earn my money, as long as it's legal and I pay my taxes. The toughest thing for me would be living a simple life and buying a home, being part of a community, etc. without my neighbors learning of my good fortune. I have no desire to live in an expensive home or upscale neighborhood. BTW, a man on Marco Island (very close to where I live) won $14 million and stayed... [ More ]

Reply #7

vt8366a — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 21:13:35 GMT

i too wouldnt remain anonymous. in fact, i wouldnt move or change a thing. if someone wants trouble, they have come to the right place. i would install a state of the art security system is about as far as i would go to making changes. i would say NO as often as it took and would gladly run people off my property or wouldnt hesitate to insult them on the phone if it was a plea for money. as far as my familys safety, well i would have security and possible bodyguards. i would continue to live as... [ More ]

Reply #6

Guru101 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 21:17:10 GMT

As I've said in the past, anonymous in the lottery isn't really anonymous. The anonymous information is only limited to the lottery. People will still find out about it, especially the people you know. A person doesn't win the lottery and live exactly the same way they did before they won it. The advantage of being anonymous isn't being able to get away from the people you do know, but the people you don't know.

Reply #5

KY Floyd — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 20:41:22 GMT

The money that comes from a big jackpot makes you a more desirable target, but it isn't the money that makes you an easier target. Most of the problems described happened to people who were lottery winners rather than to people because they were lottery winners. If you live in or only a few miles from Delaware or another state that allows you to remain anonymous that's great, but it's simply not worht the bother of driving more than a few miles to buy your tickets.

As far as concealing a win... [ More ]

Reply #4

pacattack05 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:41:41 GMT

In that case I would do what guesser would do. Tell everyone to go blank themselves.

There are many people here in Naples Florida, who are very wealthy. I'm sure they have lawyers who take care of all the people and organizations that ask for handouts. They have great security,and lastly, those things listed above would be the least of my problems. I sincerely wish I had those kind of problems...LOL

I can't imagine going through life constantly worrying about every little thing, especially... [ More ]

Reply #3

CA LotteryGuy — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:26:43 GMT

pacattack05...one of the problems with this plan is the tax implications. The IRS would see it as your sister's winnings/income. Anything she gives to you would fall under the rules of gift tax. While there are some lifetime exclusions, for a hetfy jackpot, the vast majority of what your sister gives to you would be taxed at 46%. OUCH

Reply #2

guesser — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:25:42 GMT

I'm still against remaining anonymous, but apparently I am one of the few that can and do make effective use of the word 'no'.

It's well-known what I would do if I won: disconnect phones, buy disposable cell phones, and move. I'm going to buy a slightly bigger home anyway, so moving won't be just for the sake of moving or hiding.

And for all the bad things you listed that have happened to other winners over the last 20 years, I can't help but think those things happen in everyday life to e... [ More ]

Reply #1

pacattack05 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:10:51 GMT

I wouldn't cash the ticket in my name. I would let my trusting sister cash it in, and when I give her her share, she would change her name and move somewhere else.

Why it is important to remain anonymous

rundown99 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:58:36 GMT

This is undoubtedly one of the most important posts that you will ever see at Lottery Post, and as someone who has posted on here for years, I honestly suggest that you read this very carefully!

For months, I thought about what I would do if I won the lottery, and what my life would be like. I thought about where I would want to buy my tickets. Sometimes, I would think about being anonymous. Sometimes, I would think about whether to hold a news conference if I couldn't be anonymous i... [ More ]