Single Mom Duped by Fake Lottery Ticket

[Sombeech]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=333&sid=2377883

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - When single mother Mary Ann Shaffer scratched a lottery ticket last week, she thought Christmas had come early.

The ticket indicated she was a $25,000 winner.

"I said, 'Oh my God, it's a miracle," Shaffer told the Naples Daily News.

She looked on the back to find a telephone number to claim her winnings.

Elation quickly turned to sadness as she realized the ticket, given to her by a customer at her concession stand, was fake.

"Claim forms supplied by Santa Claus. All winning tickets must be validated by the tooth fairy and conform to her game rules ... All winners are losers and must have an excellent sense of humor," the ticket read.

"How can anyone be so mean around Christmas time?" said Bear Terstegge, a Naples Beach Patrol officer who examined the ticket.

Word about the fake ticket spread quickly around the Naples pier where Shaffer sells hot dogs and water.

"It touched everybody's heart," Terstegge said.

In the past few days, Shaffer, who has two young children, has received cards, gift certificates and hefty tips. One regular brought presents for her kids.

And she's even received a few lottery tickets _ real ones.

[Gutpiler_Utahn]

You have GOT to be kidding me... Those joke tickets have been around forever. If she needs help with her Christmas, fine... but call it like it is. Don't point fingers at sombody who thought you could take a joke and call foul.

I hate people, sometimes...

[live2ride]

I gave these out this year to the guys that work for me. One of them thought he won 10k it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen!!

[RugerShooter]

I must be cold-hearted, I don't feel bad for her for getting one of these joke lottery tickets. Yes it is sad that some people can't aford to get their kid's Christmas gifts, but give me a break, you don't have to go crying over a joke. If it were me I would hand her another Joke Lottery Ticket