Store clerk sees opportunity, ends up in prison
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under losers, strange, winners
It’s a typical scene: customer comes in convenience store and hands the clerk a lottery ticket from the previous day’s drawing to see if it is a winner. Clerk says it is not a winner, and customer is not all that surprised. But what if the ticket was actually a big winner, and the clerk just keeps it and claims the big prize? That is what happened recently to a man in Baton Rouge.
The store clerk, Melissa Trahan, told him the ticket was no good. It was in fact a winner of about $800,000 total. She pocketed the ticket and later gave it to her mother. Her mother agreed to present the winning ticket in return for $150,000 of the winnings.
Store cameras later revealed the scam, and mother and daughter are now in prison. They could be sentenced to as much as 20 years behind bars.
Here’s the sad part - the actual winner may not even receive the money he was rightfully due. The money has been seized by authorities as evidence.
Newest millionaires act like it’s a funeral
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange, winners
These people just won many millions of dollars, but you would think they just got news that their dog had died. I know it’s a little overwhelming, but show a bit of excitement, people!
Lottery winner almost killed while cashing ticket
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange, winners
Strange reaction to a lottery win
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange, winners
Everyone kind of imagines what they would do if they found out they won the lottery. Jump up and down, scream, call your spouse, quit your job, all kinds of things.
Betty Tapson didn’t do any of those things. When she found out that she held a ticket that had a value of $111,877, she simply and calmly went to work.
Even Tapson herself, when thinking about it later on, was surprised at her own reaction. “I don’t know how I did it. I just had to go to work. I functioned well all day and I didn’t think about it all day.”
Eventually, later in the day, she called her boyfriend who was out of town at the time. His first question for her was: “What are you still doing at work?”
They plan to do some remodeling to their home, and they will also invest in education funds for their 7 grandchildren. And they will keep buying lottery tickets, because you never know when you might win a second time.
Church refuses to accept lottery winnings from member
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange
First Baptist Orange Park, in Orange Park, Florida (a suburb of Jacksonville) won’t be benefiting from the lottery winnings of one of its members, Robert Powell.
Powell recently won $6 million in the Florida Lottery, and wanted to give $600,000 of his winnings (a 10% tithe) to his church. First Baptist Orange Park Pastor David Tarkington would not accept it. He also would not comment, citing confidentiality of members’ gifts. A safe assumption is that the church does not condone gambling, so does not want to accept gambling winnings as part of their support.
Most churches maintain a position against any form of gambling. But some would still accept the money from a member who won it that way.
Is your name Tim? You should buy a lottery ticket
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange
If you are a man named Tim, your chances of winning the lottery are greater than any other name.
At least that’s what the statistics say. Lottery officials in Iowa were curious about how a person’s name related to how often they won the lottery (they only looked at winners of at least $100,000). They found that “Tims” won the big jackpots 33 times since the lottery began in 1985. Coming in second was the name John with 26 big wins.
Of course, lottery management was quick to point out that everyone always has the same chance of winning, no matter what your name is. They encourage players to NOT change their name with the plan of increasing the odds of winning. Duh.
Millionaire lottery winner goes back to his job - at McDonald’s
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange, winners
Luke Pittard was 24 years old and working at McDonald’s. He bought a lottery ticket, and he won US$2.6 million. So of course he quits his job, marries his sweetheart, and takes a worldwide vacation.
That took about a year and a half. Then he remembered how great his life was when he was working at McDonald’s, so he went back and asked for his old job back. Of course they were happy to have him back.
Do you see anthing wrong with this picture? This guy could do anything he wants with his life. He could spend his days handing out $100 bills to homeless people. He could establish a college scholarship and fund it himself. He could buy random strangers a new car. He could do anything he wants - and he decides that the best way he can spend his life here on this earth is to get up every day and serve junk food to people.
His wife’s reaction? “Oh, I totally understand it.” (Keep in mind, however - she works for McDonald’s as well.)
Lottery losers sue the lottery!
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under losers, strange
In Indianapolis, there’s a strange lawsuit being filed. It claims that the Hoosier Lottery misrepresented the odds of winning a particular scratch-off game. The suit has been granted class-action status by a Marion county judge.
So, anyone who bought a ticket to the game can join the lawsuit. This sounds like a free-for-all just waiting to happen.
The suit states that the lottery misstated the number and amount of prizes available in the “Cash Blast” game during some months of 2005 and 2006. Two of the plaintiffs said that the advertising for the game misled them, and they were lead to believe that the odds of winning and prizes available were greater than they actually were.
The game promised seven grand prizes, and each grand prize was supposed to be worth $250,000.
Lottery spokesman Andrew Reed had no comment, saying the Lottery does not comment on pending lawsuits.
Lotto winner never shows up!
Posted by pctutor1 | Filed under strange
Okay, $174,575 is not exactly a million bucks. But wouldn’t you take it if it were offered to you?
That is the winning amount for a Mega Millions ticket that was purchased at a convenience store in Corona, California. And the winner has yet to step forward and claim it. Today is the last day he or she can do so.
Lottery jackpost have gone unclaimed before in California. When this happens, the winnings are donated to the state’s schools. So far, about $50 million has been donated in this fashion.
Check those tickets, people!
