The Conservative Cave

Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: Texacon on August 03, 2009, 05:30:27 PM

Title: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: Texacon on August 03, 2009, 05:30:27 PM
Whole sordid tale ..... (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-lost-lotto-ticket-080209,0,1171518.story)


Quote
WELLINGTON - Florida Lottery security officials have opened an investigation into the case of a 69-year-old Wellington man who lost a scratch-off ticket worth $500,000.

But it's too early to tell if Louis Tolentino will get the money.

"They have begun an investigation, but there's nothing conclusive at this time," said Laurie Wright, spokeswoman for The Florida Lottery.

Tolentino is behind on his mortgage. His maintenance payments are past due. Medical bills are mounting.

His $500,000 scratch-off ticket would have solved all his problems. But as fast and easy as it came, it was gone, and he is in mourning.

"They're gonna see what they can do," he said Monday, his voice shaky. He said he was too distraught to say any more.

The retiree set out to cash the ticket Wednesday at a local Florida Lottery office but lost it, along with his hope of getting up-to-date with his bills.

"I'm sick. Now I owe everybody," said Tolentino, a onetime New York City garbage truck driver who said Social Security is his only source of income. "That ticket was God sent."

There is more at the link.  Anyone see anything wrong here?  Anyone??  Bueller?

Karma is a bitch.

KC
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: thundley4 on August 03, 2009, 05:46:29 PM
I think if I had a ticket worth that much, that sucker would stay in my hand until I reached the lottery office.  Hell, I'd tape it to my forehead, so I wouldn't lose sight of it.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: Sam Adams on August 03, 2009, 06:39:03 PM
Well, I admit, I feel sorry for this dude. Must be hard to explain to the wife.

But people should not play the lottery, anyway. It's for suckers.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: Chris_ on August 03, 2009, 06:41:44 PM
I still feel bad for him maybe he was a good man and sometimes bad sh*t happens to good people.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: Chris_ on August 03, 2009, 07:01:42 PM
My BS meter is off the charts with this one.

Or I just have a heart of stone (I am an evil conservative, though).

I think this guy is trying to scam someone.

Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: thundley4 on August 03, 2009, 07:15:49 PM
My BS meter is off the charts with this one.

Or I just have a heart of stone (I am an evil conservative, though).

I think this guy is trying to scam someone.



The story does say that he received a verification printout at the store.  I would think that in this day of computers that there should be a record of that verification. There should be a security camera at the store also that may have caught a pick pocket.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: Texacon on August 03, 2009, 07:47:59 PM
I dunno.  My thought on this one is;  Should I pay the bills or should I buy lottery tickets?!

Lord have mercy.  If I'm having a hard time paying the bills I damn sure ain't buying a lottery ticket.  That is just my take though.

KC
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: Eupher on August 03, 2009, 08:12:31 PM
I dunno.  My thought on this one is;  Should I pay the bills or should I buy lottery tickets?!

Lord have mercy.  If I'm having a hard time paying the bills I damn sure ain't buying a lottery ticket.  That is just my take though.

KC

Exactly. That's the first thing that occurred to me, too. You're behind on your mortgage, so you're gonna buy lottery tickets? Somethin' ain't right, maw.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: miskie on August 03, 2009, 09:41:46 PM
I think if I had a ticket worth that much, that sucker would stay in my hand until I reached the lottery office.  Hell, I'd tape it to my forehead, so I wouldn't lose sight of it.

I go one step further and get a small document safe to put it in, and keep the safe on the passenger seat on the way to the lottery office.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: The Village Idiot on August 03, 2009, 09:49:57 PM
Ouch... where did he lose it??
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: docstew on August 03, 2009, 11:21:23 PM
The story does say that he received a verification printout at the store.  I would think that in this day of computers that there should be a record of that verification. There should be a security camera at the store also that may have caught a pick pocket.

It was a scratch off, so if it was a pickpocket, he wouldn't necessarily know how much it was.  I too would have kept that damn ticket in hand until it was cashed in.  I'll give him some slack cuz he's an older gentleman and may be confused, but losing a half million dollar ticket is not something a reasonable person does.  More likely wishful thinking and he got carried away.

BTW, verification printout?  they do that now for scratchoff tickets?  never did when I was sellin em at a gas station.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: ScubaGuy on August 04, 2009, 07:18:29 AM
I don't play the scratch off games but I do buy my power ball ticket for every drawing. (It's fun to dream about what I would do with 50-100 million).

If I ever do hit the magic numbers I will put the ticket in the little fire safe and hire an security escort service to drive me downtown with that box.

Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 04, 2009, 08:43:03 AM
Priority spending for DUmmies in order of importance regardless of age...dope, beer, ciggies, lottery, gas......food, housing and healthcare to them is a right and you're expected to provide those.
Title: Re: Lottery heartbreak: Wellington man says he lost $500,000 ticket
Post by: thundley4 on August 04, 2009, 09:05:43 AM
Priority spending for DUmmies in order of importance regardless of age...dope, beer, ciggies, lottery, gas......food, housing and healthcare to them is a right and you're expected to provide those.

I have seen that in action several times at the local gas station.  A person buys a pack of cigarettes, $20 in lottery picks and $2 worth of gas.