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California Lottery
Footage from a convenience store surveillance video shows a man lottery officials believe bought a winning ticket worth $52 million in late July.
California Lottery officials are on the lookout for a man they believe is the state’s latest millionaire.
The organization released a surveillance video and a photo of a man they believe bought a winning ticket at a Fremont, Calif., Kwik Stop worth $52 million.
Lottery officials say they believe the man knows he’s the winner because he’s physically checked his ticket multiple times at grocery stores, officials said.
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But more than a month after the drawing July 27, he has yet to come forward and claim his prize, which is why the organization put out the photo and a plea asking the mystery man to bring his winning ticket to a lottery office.
“We see this as an integrity and transparency issue,” said Russ Lopez, California Lottery Deputy Director of Corporate Communications, in a statement. “The California Lottery truly believes that when a person buys a lottery ticket with the hope and prayer of changing their lives, we should do all we can to connect them with their winnings. We believe this effort will make a lot of Californians very happy.”
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In the surveillance video from the Kwik Stop, lottery officials say the man is clearly recognizable and the cashier of the convenience store, A.J. Kumar, told NBCBayArea.com that he’s waited on the mystery winner many times, including on July 25, when he sold the winning ticket.
The winner has up to one year to come forward.
More than $20.5 million in prizes went unclaimed in California over the last two years, lottery officials said. In an effort to connect ticket holders to their winnings, the California Lottery has begun sending out photos of apparent winners of unclaimed prizes.
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Dummy!!!
I hope he sues the CA Lotto and wins twice. LOL.
California officials are not the smartest people in the world, that's why CA is so screwed up. Thinking probably hurts for them.
He's probably not all that dumb. If I won something like that, my first call would be to a lawyer. With a little planning, these things can be claimed anonymously. I don't think it's right to let his picture loose, though. Somebody might pop a cap in him and take the stupid ticket.
He probably needs to find someone that is a citizen to cash the ticket for him.
If he doesn't want it, I'm sure there are a lot of other people out there that could use it!!
Sue CALotto: What is your problem? I'm not sure I understand your comment. You think it's stupid for the State of California to try to find the winner of a legitimate lottery ticket? I think it's pretty decent of them.....
@ Didi - Actually they don't have the right! If he has a year to claim it, then he may be preparing. Lots of money changes your life and you better prepare or as demonstrated time & time again, you'll be sorry. The arrogance to release a picture after only a month could get him killed, the ticket stolen, any number of things - hopefully he has already signed the back.
It ISN"T decent of them. It would be "decent" if they had waited until about 10 months and then went looking, but how dare they decide his time line this early in the game!
Its just plain stupid. If he checked the ticket multiple times, he knows he is the winner. When he comes forward is his business. They shouldn't be allowed to put his picture out there.
Must be an illegal with a criminal record and no one that he can trust......
or even pay to trust....
or he is part of a witness protection program...
They don't even know if he is the winner for sure. Maybe they just broadcast a man who is in the Witness Protection Program's face all over.
Didi, I'm just keepin' it real, girl.
There's been unclaimed tickets before, money goes straight to CA Lotto and the state (schools, etc.)
Before when there were unclaimed tickets they usually just put out where it was bought and when.
This is the first CA Lotto has pulled this little stunt, it's
INVASION of Privacy, so I hope he sues. This particular case actually infringes, he was probably lining up his eggs and preparing to claim his winnings. Now everyone knows he's rich, with this Element of danger, he has a good case in winning an invasion of privacy suit.
Exactly right Terry.
ditto!
@MTpolitico, you don't have to be a US citizen to cash in a lotto winning. Any tourists can buy lottery tickets or play black jack at any casinos and walk away with the jackpot. I once met a woman in Panama, she lived like a queen over there because she won the lotto while visiting her relatives in the US. The jackpot was a couple of millions but that's enough for her to live like a queen in Panama.
didi ...did you become stupid through the years or were you born that way? maybe he wants to get his ducks in a row and protect his privacy for the sake of security of himself and his family.think about it. i know it take liberals a minute or 2 to digest things ...but just try and think about that.
He's just waiting for his divorce to be finalized before his ex finds out he hit it big.
I wish they would put out my picture too.
Yes, MTPoliticio, an honest citizen. That's what's taking him a little time.
(Stronti)DOG who's going to pop the cap in him? YOU! Why don't you broadcast your plans all around the world?
Sue, who let you out of your cage? Who told you to try to think? It sure hurts watching you try to think.
I love the pathetic tools trying to be witty with the immigration comments.
http://www.calottery.com/contact-us/contact-us-faqs
"It is not necessary to be a California resident, nor a US citizen to play and win any of the California Lottery's games."
End of story.
He stands little chance of an invasion of privacy suit. He was caught on camera in a public business that is clearly monitored for legitimate security reasons. I don't think his being identified poses any more danger than just normal living. A thief would need to have the IQ of 2 above plant life to think they are going to steal the winning ticket when the lottery officials have already identified the winner. All you would be doing is confessing to robbery or worse.
Still I think it was very stupid to post his picture after 1 month. Likely he was trying to make arrangements with an lawyer and financial adviser without being harassed. That option was taken away from him.
now that everybody knows what he might look like...i guess the pick pockets are after him pretty hard...stay un-thirsty my friends...plain bob 2012...
you dont have to be a resident or citizen but you do have to be in the country legally
and in california he is most likely an illegal or wanted for crimes
an attorney would have everything in place and ready in a matter of a few days
the lotto commission has the right to post images of winners its part of their rules
seems many of you should use your heads before you use your keyboard
At least there's one realist here who actually does some check finding. Even if the Lotto Commission didn't have the right to post his picture, it'd be hard for him to sue because he's clearly not a legal resident.
Well averagejoe maybe he has legitimate reasons for not coming forward yet. He could be setting up a corporation in order to claim the prize and remain anonymous. He could be doing many thing but that doesn't mean he is doing or has done anything wrong. How do you know what an attorney would do? Maybe if the attorney is setting up multiple trust funds for the winners family members or doing some in depth planning that takes some time. Maybe the guy is just so freaked out he is waiting for his heart beat to return to normal.
One problem I see with many posts here is that so many people automatically think everyone else is a criminal. I shows that years of media brainwashing and the efforts of law enforcment have taken effect. I had a very high ranking police officer once tell me that he thought everyone is a criminal they just haven't been caught yet.
avaragejoe, one last point. The lottery commision can use winners pictures pictures but this guy isn't yet a winner because he hasn't claimed the prize. So far he is just some guy who bought a lottery ticket. Now get out od the sand box, the cats are gonna cover you up.
To anyone making assumptions that maybe he is illegal and that's why he is not coming forward.
1) anyone can claim a price, lottery, play in a Casino and claim their price, regardless if you are a California Resident or not, a tourist or a citizen of any other country. the difference is that if you have a social security number, they will take all the taxes before they pay him/her. I play lotto every time I go to Europe or if I go to the casinos in the Costa Rica and Panama. if you go to Las Vegas, half of the tourists gambling are not from the U.S.
2) I think this guy that to me looks more like Hawaiian is smart and making plans with attorneys of how to invest his money.
3) he can also sue the California Lottery for putting his picture out there if that's even the person that the are claiming that won the jackpot.
4) Let's all go to college or do something instead of making stupid comments of hate towards someone that we don't know his identity, intensions, plans. just by looking at a picture.
Well, so much for anonymity. It's only been a month, he has a whole year to collect his winnings. I hope he has his ticket well hidden since his face is out there for all to see. Good luck and congratulations to him.
LOL!!! That's exactly what I thought too!
The poor guy, he obviously wasn't ready to "tell the world" that he was a millionaire, but apparently the officials at the lottery decided it was time. Wow.
I hope he sues the CA Lotto and wins TWICE !!!
This posting has put this man's life in danger. Let's suppose he disappears off the face of the Earth, and someone else comes forward with his ticket. Do you think the State is at least partially responsible for posting his identity and reasonable whereabouts? If any harm comes to him, don't you think the family of the man has a case here? Hello! Certain folks don't want EVERYONE to know they have just struck it rich. It is fairly common in some cultures to share wealth with family (even extended family) equally. Maybe he's just trying to come up with a plan on what to do with the money BEFORE he gets harrassed. The state shoudl know better, but they are only looking out for their own interests here (ticket sales).
stupidity knows no bound. This man's live is in danger, thanks to CA Lottery Commission.
probably van illlegal
I understand your concern completely, but in actuality this doesn't really put him in any more danger had he remained anonymous. Secrets like this are hard to keep and I doubt people in his life are not aware of his winning. People are bound to find out; with this video everyone knows that this man is the lottery winner and there would be a lot of suspicion and explaining to do, if anyone else tried to turn in it...
People with lots of money walk around in the real world everyday, unharmed, I might add. Poor people get killed for no reason all the time.. Yeah , it sucks he can't remain completely anonymous (although its the California Bay Area and this man would just blend in a crowd, to be honest)
I do not think this guy is looking out for his own best interests! The guy is a convenience store clerk which is a very risky job. I would quit that job the instant I had the ticket validated by the state lottery comission. Also, now that MSNBC has released the photograph with the blessings of the lottery commission they have done even more to put this man's life in jeopardy. Convenience store clerks have been killed for a lot less than $52 million dollars. The also printed the store number and the street name where the store is located! It does not get anymore ignorant than that. It also does not get any more negligent on the part of MSNBC and the Lottery Commission. People need to think before they start printing names, addresses, and occupation of the subject.
u are kidding right PC , the ticket was bought at the conv. store he doesn't work there, OMG
Like you?
Unlike you, he'll be an illegal millionaire since you are not required to be a citizen to win. But nice try with the stupid comment.
I agree with SueCal lotto-the state should be banned from doing this kind of stuff and they claim they want to hook him up with his money? What kind of b.s. is that? he has a year-we had a winner here in Illinois who won mega millions and took months-she was busy with her financial advisors and lawyers and they even figured out a legal way to have a representative so her privacy was not revealed..the state wrote a column suggesting everyone follow her lead and plan carefully before coming foward-not that Illinois always does things right lol, but they got this one right-that poor man has now had his identity compromised and possibly his safety as well-HOW are they allowed to do this and WHY would they reveal his identity this way? He hasn't even been quiet all that long-what am I missing? Is this just stupid dumb&*) government at work or is there some hidden agenda I am missing..hope he sues...When you win, you agree to allow them to use your name and I think you can even get out of that with some legal loopholes but I have NEVER seen such blatant disregard for someone's privacy and safety-searching him out??? Why? Maybe the commision can fine them-they need to reel it in and allow winners as much privacy as possible. Will be interesting to see how many people stop buying tickets in CA after this..
you are so right and I disagree that he couldn't sue-they didn't wait until he came forward before revealing his identity..I'm not litigous but if it happened to me I would want to do something that would make them stop this kind of thing..maybe they'll get enough negative feedback that the lottery director will get fired..the statements about transparency etc. go beyond stupid..
I agree- so not cool to put his photo up for everyone to see! Jeez!
There is no legal recourse for this action. It's not an invasion of privacy because that entails that he is entitled to an expectation of privacy. He willingly entered the convenience store. He was caught on their camera and thus they were able to do anything with that footage they wished. It's also stupid to act like him having his picture out there is a big deal. He probably has a facebook page or some other images of himself. There is no danger to himself either because any idiot who would think they could kill him and take the ticket would have to be really smart otherwise they'll just go to jail.
Wow - talk about a b.s. move on the part of the state - this man has every right to remain anonymous as long as he chooses while he prepares to claim the prize. By blasting his image to the masses, the state has majorly overstepped their boundaries/authority, imo.
I agree that is wrong...
They have no right displaying his photo all over the place before he comes in to collect the money. But only in a few states do lottery winners have a right to remain anonymous. In nearly every state a requirement for collecting the money also involves having your photo taken and your name given out to the public. But he hasn't come in to collect the money yet so I would think this counts as stalking and invasion of privacy.
Well California did elect jerry"moon beam"brown for governor. You get the government you deserve.
The state is a bunch of morans, the Man could open a trust fund and have his lawyer cash the ticket. Then trust fund would be announced as the winner not this poor guy...oh my
hey! thats hector! lets get that ticket!
I assume you are being funny, but actually this is a legitimate worry for the man now. I really feel bad for him. He better hurry up and claim the money so he can get the heck outta Dodge before somebody with evil intentions finds him. Gosh, this sorta goes right along with the saying "money is the root of all evil". Congratulations to this man and God bless him too.
This was kind of mean of the California lottery officials. I could see if it was getting down to the line and there was only a month left to claim the ticket, but not only one month after the purchase. Many people wait a few months to settle financial and legal affairs, get advice from lawyers and accountants and try and get things in order and wrap their head around the idea of the money before claiming it. That would be the responsible thing to do, after all. What they have done could easily result in people bothering and hounding and maybe even robbing or harming him during this time. Wouldn't that be great, if someone tore his house apart and found the ticket and claimed it themselves because they saw his face on the news and tracked him down? Fate isn't very kind to many lottery winners and they often end up dead, in jail, in debt, or addicted to drugs in very little time. Until you have claimed the ticket, you should have the right to anonymity, rather than have your face broadcast so that people can hunt you down and hound you to claim the ticket. This is the first time I've heard of a lottery doing something like this to identify a winner who still has months and months to make their claim. I hope the other lotteries in this country make note of the fact that this was wrong and don't do it themselves.
Exactly - what if the next story released is, "Man killed in attempt to steal winning lottery ticket" - what if that person isn't even the one in this footage but someone *thinks* it looks a lot like Joe down the street? How many people's lives are they willing to turn upside down for some publicity?
“The California Lottery truly believes that when a person buys a lottery ticket with the hope and prayer of changing their lives, we should do all we can to connect them with their winnings. We believe this effort will make a lot of Californians very happy
And? Who cares if it makes "a lot" of people happy - that makes it okay to totally disregard the ONE person's right to his privacy? As to "doing all we can to connect them with their winnings" - the man has, by their own admission, checked the ticket multple times, he KNOWS he won - he is choosing (as is his right) to take the time he wants to take to get things prepared and come forward when HE chooses to claim this prize. These officials need to BUT OUT!!
The dude is probably just shy of his divorce.. Who would wait a month! Be real. His soon to be ex is probably jumping up and down! HA!
PLENTY of winners wait a month or more to come forward -- a smart person is spending that time building a legal and financial team to be sure their "ducks are in a row" while they are still anonymous, once the prize is claimed and their identity is public knowledge all hell breaks loose....
I agree and I don't think it will make any Californians very happy or send them rushing out to buy tickets-fire the guy (lottery director) and then announce THAT in the mass media..I know, spiteful revenge but this story upset me-feel sorry for the poor guy...hope he finds a way to remain anonymous and lives happily..well wishes to him..
So, if he has up to one year to claim it, why are they running this story? Leave the guy alone. When he's ready, he'll come forward.
too late for that now..thanks to the state.
I agree. What is wrong with them? While in the State of California you cannot opt for anonymity, you should have it up to a certain point. People like to be able to get things in order in their own time and figure out their situation before coming out as winners. I understand if 9 months go by, but this guy has only had a month. He may not have had an opportunity to meet with financial planners or lawyers, and maybe his own family has no idea that he is a winner. He could still be trying to wrap his head around it himself. This sort of intrusion into privacy is outrageous, and if I were him the first thing I would do would be to sue the state of California. I am not a litigious person, but this sort of thing could make this guy a target for thieves, con artists, and worse. Who knows what kind of neighborhood he lives in? He has my sympathy. What were they thinking?
You should be a lawyer!!! I agree invasion of privacy, law suit and WIN twice !!!
Boy talk about putting someone's life in danger! This was just irresponsible on the state of CA and NBC!
Agree with your comment. Lottery officials shouldn't be publicizing winners. There is a privacy issue and the person's safety to think of. It is the responsibility of the ticket holder to collect the winnings. Also, if a winning ticket was lost or discarded and is no longer in the person's possession, the "winner"would be unable to collect the prize anyway.
I thought winners have only 90 days to collect.
Good job California you just created the number one kidnapping target in America.
Richard - NC. I'm sure the gentleman is smart unlike the lame ass progressive, leftist, socialist news that has posted this gentleman's face all over the internet with the help of the progressive, leftist, socialist lottery people who are obviously clueless. The NC must mean you are from North Carolina? If not sorry. If so, I understand why you are clueless where the kidnapping capital is...... Do you know where it is? Try Phoenix, AZ. Did you know that? Did you know that it is rated #2 kidnapping capital in the WORLD? #1 is Mexico City. Go figure.................. Please take a vacation South of the Border soon.........
He should keep it a secret or every criminal could kidnap his family for ransom.
The winner has done nothing to let the cat out of the bag! You can place the blame for that on MSNBC and the CA Lottery Commission.
Power - Perfect call. Glad to see there are smart people in here.
wouldn't that be a kick in the pants if he's not even legal.... hmmmm
This could get the man killed!
Could it be that he is an illegal? And if this is the case, does California have a legal right to void his winnings if this is the case? Could be why they are hot to trot.
All those beaners look alike!
He will hand it off to a legal one and call Oduma..................
@To All Cowards
GTFO with your racist bullsh*t please.
And no Eddie, you are not required to be a citizen to win,
@YuppieCAPA , NICEEEEEEEE PICTUREEEEEE , YFI , STOP SMOKING SOOOOOO MUCHHHHHHH WEEEEEED!
@ ALL Cowards, thats like saying, ALL pedophiles & mass murderers are white!
Way to go California, you just put a bounty on this guys head.
If local gang bangers recognize him he is toast, or they'll grab a family member for collateral until he collects the winnings and pays the ransom.
California Lottery officials are a lot like California Politicians...
...idiots.
Sounds like CA wants their tax money cut. Desperately, it seems.
California just wants their cut. They can't afford to take care of all the illegals as it is.
Any number of things could be keeping him from coming forward. He could be going through a divorce or some such thing and is waiting for closure so as not to lose half his money. It could be something more sinister like not having proper citizenship or having warrants out for his arrest. Maybe he's just shy of the spotlight. Maybe he has enemies he's trying to avoid out of fear. Maybe he's in the Witness Protection Program.
The California Lottery should be held accountable if this man suffers any harm or loss because of this.
Waiting on a divorce won't work. There have been numerous stories about people that got divorced, many years down the line the ex-husband received a notice from a payment consolidation company that would pay out a lump sum on her lottery winnings because the ex-wife had chosen annual payments. The husband, puzzled, looked into the matter and found out that his wife not only won while still together, but filed for divorce AFTER having won. In other words, she divorced him directly as a result of her winnings.
Probably an illegal looking for a way to cash it without getting deported.
I was thinking the same thing. Just look at President Obamas aunt who was ordered deported in 2004 and she continued to hide in Boston........ she was here illegally.
Enough with the stupid "illegal" comments. It takes all of 5 seconds to Google the fact you are not required to be a citizen to win. It's idiotic that people would rather create some imaginary scenario with made up facts, just to push an agenda.
Chris, i think you missed the point here..
Mary - Let it go. Most people understand. You can't help stupid change. That's why they are the 47% that don't pay taxes........
Chris thats not exactly so. There was a similar situation in another state a few years back and he got another individual to collect. That individual collected alright but kept the money. The illegal sued but the court found out he was an illegal and deported his tail and he didn't get one cent of the money.
Please show me that incident, because it flat out states on the California Lottery website that:
There is no ambiguity there. No wiggle room. No guessing. If your incident you cite is from some other state, oh well. My comment you replied to was addressing THIS article and THIS winner IN California.
http://www.calottery.com/contact-us/contact-us-faqs
As for the child calling me stupid, gratz, you now look like an idiot to millions of people.
If it is or isn't what if someone tries to hurt this Guy? It will be the lottery's fault.... They don't even know if it's him.
Hey Andrew Mach NBC News why don't you post your picture and address with your article. That way if we see you we can say, "There's the A-hole who got that poor guy who won the lottery killed." You're really not much different from that Spike Lee idiot.
I hope this guy claims his winnings, then sue the CA Lotto for invasion of privacy and WINs twice!!! LOL!
WINS twice !!!
Uh, yeah, after about the sixth time, we get it Sue.
remove
replace
If he is an illegal alien I don't think he gets to collect.
http://www.calottery.com/contact-us/contact-us-faqs
Read before posting next time.