Charles Darwin with a purple swarm around his head, contemplating the twist of fate that natural selection sidestepped these still-living honorable mentions.

2001 Honorable Mention

Next Prev Random Honorable Mentions have misadventures that stop short of the ultimate sacrifice. Nevertheless we salute the spirit of their colossal blunders with an Honorable Mention. Better luck next time!

The Sting
2001 Honorable Mention
Confirmed True by Darwin

"You won the lottery!"

California fugitives hoping to collect $1500 in lottery winnings walked into a police sting aimed at serving outstanding felony warrants. The "Fresno County Lottery Commission" sent 3200 letters, claiming to be distributing $78 million in excess lottery funds. The winners were instructed to present identification at the County Fairgrounds.

They arrived to find a balloon and streamer-festooned building, where they left their smiling relatives as one by one they were called into separate rooms to receive their surprise.

Uniformed officers were standing by to explain the hoax and arrest the befuddled fugitives. The operation served 81 felony warrants and 75 arrests, and a surveillance team arrested two men on suspicion of car burglary.

DarwinAwards.com © 1994 - 2020
Submitted by: Jerry, Carole
Reference: The Fresno Bee, and my Mom, who heard it several times on the radio.

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