Here's how to stay anonymous if you win
3. Delete social media accounts (and change your phone number and address, too).
We're in the age where everything is online. So before you claim your prize, make sure you erase as much of your digital footprint as possible. "I would delete every social media account you have and consider changing as much as you can," said Marty King. "Change your phone number and address if you can, too. If you're going to be public, you want to make it as hard as possible for people to find you."
4. Wear a disguise.
Think of old spy movies when it comes to how you'll dress when you claim your prize — even if you're forced to make a public appearance and talk to the press. "Alter your appearance and dress differently than you usually dress," said Rick "Night Train" Blaine, author of "Blackjack Blueprint: How to Play Like a Pro ... Part Time" and the titleholder of the "World's Best Blackjack Player" from the 2015 Blackjack Ball tournament. Blaine — a pseudonym from Humphrey Bogart's character in the classic film "Casablanca" — uses several aliases and changes his appearance so casinos can't identify him (see him in disguise
here). So if you're a guy, grow out your beard or shave if you have a beard. Wear a hat, sunglasses, baggy clothes or whatever it takes to look different so no one can identify you.
5. Disconnect all phones.
"Have your friend get you a prepaid phone, purchased with cash, which you can register with any area code," said Blaine. "For example, you buy the phone in New York, you can register it as coming from Nebraska. All you need is to input a Nebraska zip code and you'll be assigned a corresponding area code."
6. Get out of town.
If you really want to ensure you'll remain out of the spotlight and prevent people from hounding you for money, then get out of town or even the country. "It gives you a chance to settle yourself and lets the publicity die down," Erica Sandberg, personal finance expert and author of "Expecting Money: the Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families," told us.
7. Set up an LLC or trust.
While it might be impossible to use an LLC to claim the actual prize, once you move to a new place you can buy your home and all of your assets under one to prevent people from tracking you. "Set up an LLC or trust in order to build anonymity," said Josh King. "The structure you need here will be determined by the law of the state the winner resides in. You'll need to work with a very experienced, very discreet attorney to do this in a way that it can't be figured out by a determined investigator." Marty King agrees, saying, "You're probably going to buy a new home anyway, so don't buy it under your name. Using an LLC makes it harder for people to find your new address. Use trusts to hide the identity of any assets. You can hide your new existence."
8. Don't make any big purchases for a year.
It may be tempting to treat yourself to a number of shiny new toys, but those purchases also draw attention to the fact that you have money to spend. It's best to maintain the appearance of your normal life, while quietly working with your money management team. "Have a trusted friend rent a modest place in a remote location under his/her name," said Blaine. "A place where there are no neighbors."
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