Poll of the Day > Would you want people to know that you won the lottery?

(+) Yeah! (+)

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I dont even want people to know I exist usually

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It isn't uncommon for criminal organizations to target and extort money from lottery winners. It's best to keep it as quiet as possible. A teacher in my division won several million dollars earlier this year and immediately packed up everything and moved far away. He kept it a secret but the news still reached me. I was teaching his son and even he didn't tell me why they were leaving.

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I'd just want to win a smaller jackpot (like a couple mil) and only tell my close family, I think I could keep the target off my back that way.

Winning the lottery is kind of paradoxical to me because yeah you can keep it secret if you try but if you do keep it secret then there's no one to enjoy the money with. And even if you find a way to enjoy it by yourself, you'll have to constantly come up with alibis for why you aren't at work or why you're constantly travelling or whatever

In my province you have to publish your name, or they can withhold your money. So yeah, Id definitely be leaving the country.

depends on how much it is really. if its like 1 or 2million id rather keep it to my self and maybe very close family. if it was a lot more then id branch it out to more extended family and charities.

eitherway id rather not announce it to the world.

I wouldn't want people to know, but for the sake of the system, winners *should* be known because otherwise the whole thing can be a hoax.

faramir77 posted...

It isn't uncommon for criminal organizations to target and extort money from lottery winners.

By that logic, shouldn't criminal organizations just target and extort all rich people? >_>

CoorsLight posted...

Winning the lottery is kind of paradoxical to me because yeah you can keep it secret if you try but if you do keep it secret then there's no one to enjoy the money with. And even if you find a way to enjoy it by yourself, you'll have to constantly come up with alibis for why you aren't at work or why you're constantly travelling or whatever

Why do you have to change everything? And if you won a smaller amount, all you'd be doing is retiring, so you could probably come up with an excuse for that if you really cared. Otherwise, some people win millions of dollars then just go to work the next day.


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Zeus posted...

By that logic, shouldn't criminal organizations just target and extort all rich people? >_>

Rich people generally have a gradual increase in wealth, typically locked away in investments, savings, or their own business. Lottery winners get millions into their chequing account overnight and are an easier, more naive target.

Rich people aren't immune, either. Look at Barry and Honey Sherman.

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faramir77 posted...

Rich people aren't immune, either. Look at Barry and Honey Sherman.

Not for nothing, but the details there don't make it sound like they were just targeted by criminals for their money.

According to the ITOs, Jonathon Sherman told police his parents "were complicated people and that there are people out there who would have a grudge against them and would have a reason to hurt them."

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Zeus posted...

Why do you have to change everything? And if you won a smaller amount, all you'd be doing is retiring, so you could probably come up with an excuse for that if you really cared. Otherwise, some people win millions of dollars then just go to work the next day.

I was saying that more in general, so including jackpot winners. Retiring early would be nice but if you go from a 5/6 figure income to being paid out millions per year, it's kinda silly to just live the same lifesyle

I'm sure relatives I hate would try and mooch off me

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As amusing as the last option was, I would tell my close fam so I picked dat one

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CoorsLight posted...

I was saying that more in general, so including jackpot winners. Retiring early would be nice but if you go from a 5/6 figure income to being paid out millions per year, it's kinda silly to just live the same lifesyle

What if you like your lifestyle? Most people aren't so miserable that they feel the need to rush out and changed everybody.

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I'd only tell my family.

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My family and close friends would know, because I'd be giving them money before I start travelling the world.

But other than that, no, I wouldn't want anyone knowing. Especially people who kidnap travelers.

here in ontario at least, you legally have to identify yourself

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When I was younger and more fond of my Friends and Family, I would had no problem telling them (and the rest of the World)...

Now I'm older, I dunno, I'm not sure if I would even tell my own Mom...maybe if I was Married tell my Wife or GF if I was really in Luv with her, but if I ever come across any serious $$$, I'm keeping it to myself to the Grave

That's not to say I wouldn't help out others if needed, but try my best to keep everything Anonymous

HHHHEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLL NO!

That is the main reason I never play the lotto in my area because I don't want anybody to know exactly how much money I have or make. And it is required by law that you be publicly identified if you win. Well, that and the chances of winning are the same as me having sex with 5 super models at the same time so why waste the money?

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Kanatteru posted...

here in ontario at least, you legally have to identify yourself

There are states in the US that have that requirement but a number of winners have sued and won to keep their identity hidden.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/hampshire-judge-rules-560m-powerball-winner-remain-anonymous/story?id=53689185

^Or, in some states, you can form a Trust and accept it on its behalf...but again, it still may come back to you if ppl dig deep enough

And the reason they do they because they (Lotto Commissions, and in some cases Casinos) don't want people to think its rigged and they are actual People winning the Jackpots