Nolan Daniels Powerball Ticket Becomes First Viral Hoax

Culture

Some guy named Nolan Daniels became an internet sensation when he posted a photo of himself holding a faked winning Powerball ticket to his Facebook page.

The photo, with the caption, “Looks like I won't be going to work EVER!!!! Share this photo and I will give a random person 1 million dollars!” got over 7,000 likes and over 1.7 million shares before it was revealed as a hoax.

Daniels claimed to have purchased the winning ticket in Arizona, where there really was one. And the fake ticket does show the actual winning numbers, though as several commenters pointed out, they’re not in numerical order like they would be on a real ticket.

People who were duped by the Facebook hoax have responded with a surprising level of animus, considering the fact that nobody was actually hurt. Nolan didn’t scam any money off of anyone or cause any more trouble than some momentary embarrassment for people who fell for it and shared the photo.

Comments include incorrect assessments like “this is fraud,” nastiness like “what an asshole,” and even, “I hope he dies.”

If you won the lottery, would you announce it on Facebook and open the floodgates for everyone who ever wanted a handout to come knocking on your door, or would you go about your life, telling just a few people?