I took my brothers winning lottery ticket and paid off my debt with it.
About 5 years ago when i was 24, my younger brother was gifted a $10 scratcher for his birthday and when he was done he said he lost and put it on the table for scanning. I scanned the ticket and it was a $20,000 winner.
At the time I was struggling in private student loans and needed a way to pay it off so I did not let out a peep and proceeded to take it and turn it in at the state office a few days later. When I was asked where I was going by family I said to visit an old friend, lets call them dave.
The problem then arises, while I was on the trip, Dave was in the hospital for an appendicitis and my Mom found out. She called and asked me where I was and I said with Dave at his house. You can see where that is going.
After awhile of talking and changing my lie to I was visiting an old ex boyfriend she hung up and everything worked out.
I walked away with around $16,000 and never told anyone. My little brother is now in college facing some pretty bad debt and I can’t stop thinking about what this couldve done for him.
Edit: it was 4k in taxes and the 16k is after the taxes.