If I were Filthy Rich
By BellaRyder2505+12 This might be a controversial post
I know staying anonymous is obviously important and should be allowed in all the states. But is it really that big of a deal if you are not. Sure maybe your friends or family might know or they might not. Even if you have to show your face. I feel like the majority of the public don't go looking after or trying to find out who won the lottery. And even if people do know the name of what they look like some people might not remember or even care. I think what I am trying to say is I feel like people don't really pay attention to the names of the winners or who wins. And if you are smart and wise with your family and friends if they do find out then maybe you will be fine. Idk if I am making any sense at all lol. And some people have the same name. All I am saying is that I think if you win the lottery and all you have to put is your name and the next day you go out to eat or a movie or stay at a hotel or do whatever I don't think everyone is going to know that you won the lottery. I feel like even people who's only their name and even their face has been shown have been able to live private and good lives. Obviously all in all I support and want anonymity. But yeah. Sorry for my ramble lol.
Recent responses
+123 @BlueRFR3100 Scammers and con artists do actively seek out winners though.
+61 @bahamapapa817 The anonymity is for the crazies out there who will show up at your property and slip and fall and demand payment. Or for the hundreds of unsolicited requests from strangers who have cancer patients or run a hedge fund that needs your money. It’s for a level of peace
+31 @kjmacsu2 I work for a major corporation that the news always talks about what we are getting for profit sharing. One year it was pretty nice, like $10,000 being the average. I had friends and family alike all of a sudden asking for help. I can't image what it would be if I won millions. Nope, anonymous is the way to go.
+29 @zFreshPrince Yeah most people will definitely not know, and like 99% of people won’t even recognize you. The issue is those that will put the effort into finding you. All it takes is one obsessive person to ruin your entire life. Just one person who thinks to kidnap you or someone you love for a ransom. That’s aside from people you never planned to get in touch with reaching out and hounding you for money. So many previous winners have had their lives ruined by going public so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
+28 @Due-Ad-8743 Winners have gotten killed by jealous people
+28 @Inevitable_Cat_7878 The everyday person will not care. The problem is, once your name is out there, long lost friends and relatives will suddenly come out of the woodwork and have their hands out. Either to invest in some shady business, help with some bills, or straight up ask for a share of the winnings. That's where being anonymous matters. You win, take home your winnings, and you can continue to live your life without having to worry about some long lost friend or relative harassing you for money.
+21 @Aidyn_22 I worked with a guy years ago who won 100k on a scratch ticket, someone found the picture and told everyone. For months if we would go for drinks, getting lunch at work or honestly anything money related came up everyone would say “oh (name) will pay for it, money bags”. Even as a joke this would get soooo old so fast. I always felt so bad for him, couldn’t imagine how it would be if it were millions.
+20 @parallelmeme >I feel like the majority of the public don't go looking after or trying to find out who won the lottery. Correct. Only the swindlers do.
+17 @celiacsunshine There actually *are* people who seek out, stalk, and harass lottery winners in hopes of getting some money from them. Sure, they're a very small percentage of the population, but even 1-2 crazies can make your life into a living hell. And they won't just come after you. They'll go after your family, your friends, anyone who might be in contact with you. So even if *you* could deal with it, could your loved ones? Especially if you have kids.
+15 @shittiestmorph I think the biggest fear is that people you know or have known will know about it, and news will spread between those people. It is probably more likely people that know you or your "loved ones" who will try to take advantage.
+12 @Terradactyl87 I live in a small town that gossips for years about the new stoplight. They'd absolutely hear if someone in town won and they'd do everything they could to find out who. The lottery announces where the ticket was won, even what specific store it's bought from, so they'd know overnight and then just be waiting until whoever won claimed their ticket. I have a unique name that literally no one else in the US has. Also, if my family found out, they'd be all over me trying to scam me. They don't live in my state so I'd have a little more time to get away before they heard. I'd need to have everything set up before I claimed my money to be able to move immediately. Otherwise I wouldn't be safe from my family or the crazy locals. Luckily I have no real connection to my family and once I'm able I already plan to disappear forever, and I'd love to leave this crazy small town I live in.
+11 @jazzeriah Trust me. You will be targeted. It won’t be like no one cares. Winning huge amounts in certain ways has literally ruined the winner’s life.