Why you should try to remain anonymous if you ever win a jackpot!

Reply #35

chasingadream — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:21:05 GMT

Don't believe me? Let me share an example.

I collect my paycheck every two weeks. No one has ever seen me collect my paycheck and expect me to give them some money just because I got paid.

I collect a $100 powerball win, and half the people I tell say, I guess you are buying lunch.

If you win, and are not anonymous, everyone that knows you won your money, instead of earned it, is going to expect their free lunch from you.

I totally agree. I won 1k on a scratcher in Ga last year... [ More ]

Reply #34

GamerMom — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:07:09 GMT

You may be okay with that, and able to say no, but many people just cannot.

Florida lottery does not allow you to remain annonymous but I would simply say that my financial planner has my money tied up and I am not allowed to touch it at the moment. That wouldn't be true, of course, but it sounds better than HECK NO.

Reply #33

Stew12 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:55:15 GMT

It would sure slow the onslaught of free loaders if you weren't blasted all over TV and the news though.

Reply #32

diamondpalace — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:48:12 GMT

I would choose anonymous. I love being anonymous.

In today society hypes up the mentality of being famous for just about doing anything, even making a fool of oneself to become famous.

Reply #31

grengrad — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:51:44 GMT

I have to respectfully disagree.

If you have a lot of money, but you worked hard for it, people will respect that and will not coming begging for money too often. Of course, you will still have your gold-diggers and your occasional wacko, but it will be pretty limited.

If you win the lottery and you are not anonymous, you will have waves of people begging for money.

First, you have all your friends and family, expecting there share.

Then, you have people who aren't really your f... [ More ]

Reply #30

Guru101 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:16:02 GMT

People don't care that you won the lottery; they care that you have a lot of money. Claiming a jackpot anonymously by me would be useless because if I'm living in a big house and driving around in a Lamborghini, it won't matter.

Reply #29

mylollipop — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:00:11 GMT

How much do you have to pay a lawyer to set up a blind trust? Doesn't the lawyer control the trust

Reply #28

blackblue — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:27:39 GMT

Sad, sad story.She could have made her life worth living helping others with that money but...unfortunate things happen.

I think it's wrong for that boy's father to blame her for his son's death.His son had a mind of his own and people need to stop the blame game.

Reply #27

AlecWest — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:29:04 GMT

Makes sense to me. FWIW, I've often thought of that when people use attorneys as trustees of a blind trust. A degree in law only gives a person the right to take a bar exam ... and passing the bar only confers the right to practice law. Neither establishes that the lawyer is reputable (grin). Imagine turning over the winning ticket to a multimillion dollar jackpot ... and a week later, finding your lawyer's office vacant ... with mail being forwarded to a villa in the Swiss Alps (grin).

I thi... [ More ]

Reply #26

DC81 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:34:18 GMT

Nice.

Yeah, becoming a CFP myself would certainly be one of the things on my to do list after winning. If just not only for a good cover but so as to at least help develop a firmer grasp on things. There's no way I'd let someone else take control my finances and make decisions on my behalf without my actual involvement. I think that's another problem a lot of winners who end up broke have. They don't want the responsibility and take a mostly hands off approach to it and just spend spend sp... [ More ]

Reply #25

AlecWest — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:31:59 GMT

P.S. to my last ... again, tongue FIRMLY in cheek (grin). If one of the public relations questions asked was, What's the first thing you'll do when you get the money? I'd answer, I'll probably go to a small market, buy myself a bottle of fortified wine, go back to my rented hotel room and get totally plastered. Ooooo ... talk about negative PR value, hehehe.

Regards -- J. Alec West

Reply #24

AlecWest — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:28:10 GMT

DC81,

Regarding your comment, I'd probably make a character out of it, though make sure to do it in a manner that wouldn't attract attention.

Funny you should mention that, hehe. I wouldn't do this myself (snicker) but it occurred to me that there's no law against poor people - even extremely poor people - from winning a lottery jackpot. About two weeks before redemption day, I'd quit my job. Then, I'd stop shaving, cutting my hair, showering, and shampooing ... going to a Goodwill store... [ More ]

Reply #23

AlecWest — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:46:01 GMT

I'm lucky enough to live in an area (border between two states) where neither photo shoots nor press conferences are required. However, I'm certain that both Oregon/Washington lottery commissions would not volunteer that information ... and in fact would try to capitalize on winner euphoria and steer me toward making a public spectacle of myself.

I suspect the first thing I'd do is call up my local bar association referral service and ask to be referred to an attorney who knows lottery law. F... [ More ]

Reply #22

JackpotWanna — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:18:46 GMT

I wish new york had that anonymous option. Sadly Winners are left to fend for themselves.

Reply #21

DC81 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:03:54 GMT

My make over would likely just be some sun glasses to hide my eyes, a long wig (with a baseball cap) and a fake facial hair or a beard, different color than my real hair of course and a new shirt that no one has seen me wear before, I don't think pants would be an issue since they'd just be jeans. I'd probably make a character out of it, though make sure to do it in a manner that wouldn't attract attention. I don't think there's a law against that is there? On the other hand, I probably wouldn't... [ More ]

Reply #20

AlecWest — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:36:36 GMT

P.S. to my last post regarding press conferences. Actually, if I was ever required to do a press conference, I'd do the name change and makeover as suggested. But I'd also tell the lottery commission that I'd bring my attorney along with me to act as my spokesperson. And, I'd have the attorney go to the press podium first thing and read the following statement:

My client is mandated by state law to submit to a press conference. In compliance with that law, he is here. However, my client wishe... [ More ]

Reply #19

AlecWest — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:33:59 GMT

Pardon me for saying this ... but your first sentence above is spot-on accurate. Most people DON'T know what all the hulabalu is about. And lottery commissions are counting on it. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain (public relations wise) if a winner voluntarily agrees to make a public spectacle of themselves. They won't tell you that, in the immediate future, media entities will post your photo and every PR-value word you say - and that everybody who sees/hears that coverage will... [ More ]

Reply #18

AlecWest — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:50:28 GMT

What the lottery wants to do and what they can do are often times at odds. Only a handful of states require photo shoots or press conferences. Most states require the release of a name ... but will also allow winners to redeem tickets by Registered Mail. If a person wins a large jackpot in such a state, it might require the assistance of an attorney to remind lottery agencies of their legal limitations.

I think, in the vast majority of cases, that lottery commissions rely on winner euphori... [ More ]

Reply #17

Elizabeth03 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:49:13 GMT

If I won, I'd like to remain anonymous, but in Canada, the lottery corporation wants you to tell the media, which is a drag, because then maybe people will start knocking on your door, looking for money from you!

You would have to move anyway after the publicity.

Which I gladly would because I am not happy with the neighborhood that I live in, and want to move away anyway

Reply #16

TigerAngel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:40:00 GMT

I don't know what all the hulabalu is about. When I win big I will go on the local TV news and give my acceptance speech which I prepared already (it's around here somewhere) and it goes something like this:

To my friends and family and all the people that supported me along the way I say to you a heart felt thank you and a few of you will find a little something extra in your Christmas stocking this year.

And to those that weren't supportive of me, I say to you-- nah nah na nah nah... [ More ]

Reply #15

KY Floyd — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:56:45 GMT

Changing your name might work, and even be a practical way to maintain anonymity for a modest jackpot. There's one huge risk in doing so before claiming the jackpot, however. If your picture ends up being publicized, and the lottery will want to do that, people who know you may notice the wrong name you're using. Especially for a large jackpot, that could easily result in publicity you would otherwise have avoided. That could lead to additional scrutiny by the media, that would easily connect yo... [ More ]

Reply #14

DC81 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:58:26 GMT

I dunno, I think having a blind trust set up would still be a better option for claiming. Now, you could change your name and still be the trustee to claim it (with a disguise since they will probably want a picture) and then just change it back but wouldn't all that be public record? As well as if you don't have a trust claim it, have to notify the lottery of the name change? Or are you just a number to them after winning? You'd probably want to set up a PO box with your new name too, probably... [ More ]

Reply #13

AlecWest — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:04:26 GMT

DC81,

You raise a VERY good point. Michigan does allow winners of $10K or more to remain anonymous if they win an in-state game. Michigan rules for MegaMillions differ, however. But if you win a MegaMillions jackpot (grin), this is one of those situations where you could do a legal name change BEFORE redeeming your ticket ... then change your name back afterward.

It's sad - but I've heard horror stories about winners who had to change their names after winning to escape salespersons, chari... [ More ]

Reply #12

DC81 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:22:38 GMT

Jack was a good ol'boy so he couldn't just go quietly, he had to make a spectacle of himself and I've found his regretting winning the jackpot and wishing he tore up to just be disingenuous seeing how if the lottery ruins your life, would you play it ever again? Jack did and won another 10 grand. Then again, he supposedly went broke due to lawsuits and claimed that thieves broke into multiple accounts of his at the same time and drained his funds while in court over his grand daughter's boyfrien... [ More ]

Reply #11

four4me — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:49:27 GMT

I hope when people win they don't base there win on what happened to the down trodden people who carried on or acted foolishly with the new found fortune.

Each of us has his her own personality and that personality will be greatly exaggerated should you win. People who are calm, cool and collected will probably remain as cool as is if not cooler. People who are extroverted will probably act up more than ever.

Winning millions of dollars is is a life altering experience and many can handle... [ More ]

Reply #10

grengrad — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:31:26 GMT

AlecWest

Your posts are a breath of fresh air.

Reply #9

psykomo — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:16:14 GMT

BY now it may B too late 4-me !!!!!

MOST people on the POST know's who PSYKOMO IS!!

MOST people WON't tell until PSYKOMO HIT'sssssss A BIG JACKPOT$$$

that is what FRIEND's ARE FOR $$$$$$$$$

LOL

PSYKOMO

Reply #8

AlecWest — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:59:44 GMT

That is a great cautionary tale. Generosity does not equal love. Frankly, I think the old geezer was just trying to impress his granddaughter. If I had been in his situation, the first thing I'd have done is keep my mouth shut. In West Virginia, they allow ticket redemption by Registered Mail - a clear sign that the state does not require either a photo shoot or press conference. And, as I understand it, multi-state lotteries allow member states to make the rules regarding anonimity.

In short... [ More ]

Reply #7

AlecWest — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:48:24 GMT

State lottery law on anonimity concerns varies widely from one state to another. Kansas, for example, has a law mandating anonimity of winners unless they sign a release form. Washington and other states allow attorneys acting as trustees of blind trusts to claim the money. Oregon and other states require that ticket redemption be performed by a natural person (meaning no trusts). Other states require you submit to a photo shoot ... still others require you submit to a press conference. One stat... [ More ]

Reply #6

JackpotWanna — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:25:30 GMT

Instead of giving her $2 grand a week he could have hired 2 body guards and a personal nanny to watch over her. Forget the 4 cars.

Reply #5

grengrad — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:57:59 GMT

I would love to remain anonymous, but the problem was poor decision making as much or more than anything else.

$2,000 a week and 4 cars to a 17 year old?

I can almost get my head around 4 cars, but what on earth is a 17 year old going to buy with $2,000 a week?

He is an adult and should have taught her responsibility.

For example: Oh, you want a corvette now, instead of that pickup. Okay, honey, but you only get 1 car, so we can trade the pickup in towards a corvette, or you can keep... [ More ]

Reply #4

konane — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:10:57 GMT

If it bleeds it leads ..... press follows someone 'out there' like Jack waiting for an attention grabbing headline, with an undertone that (Huge Amount of) money is evil ... unless they can tell someone how to use it. Opinions are like other things all of us have but opinions are not hard facts.

In the case of one British lottery winner the press had sniping remarks about how she dressed, her weight, her everyday actions apparently hoping to provoke a headline reaction on her part.

Reply #3

savagegoose — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:47:02 GMT

annonymous is an option to claiming here in oz, but that said a radio station did get the identity of 1 big winner.

we have a box at back of ticket where we can put our name NFP [_] not for publication, so ill say ill take annonymous

Reply #2

JackpotWanna — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:02:20 GMT

Some state does not allow that option. I do like the hotel and travel idea.

Give 12 grand to each family member. Nothing more.

Reply #1

Kaptainess — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:31:30 GMT

Good idea, I can think of a lot of things that can crop up.... Like some jerk taking you to court saying you would share half of the pot. It has happened.

I'm not worried about relatives, they know they can go to hell.

When I hit big I'll just gather up the most important things I can grab and put in a suitcase, check into the best hotel in the city and call my lawyer. Oh, and keep the ticket on my person at all times. AND remember to sign that dern ticket as soon as you find out that you... [ More ]

Why you should try to remain anonymous if you ever win a jackpot!

rundown99 — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:47:41 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMDKs_CZGMs