A New Zealand truck driver who won the lottery and instantly became a multimillionaire has spoken up about his hardships after winning, including his interactions with a so-called “clairvoyant” who he says defrauded and almost “broke” him.
When Mark Lipsham’s Powerball winning numbers were announced in late 2017, he was working on Auckland’s Puhoi highway expansion and had just won NZ$19.1 million (AUS$17.1 million).
The former soldier had just turned 53 when he began “dreaming numbers,” which he recorded and utilised when purchasing Lotto tickets.
When Mr. Lipsham returned his ticket at a grocery on his way home from work, he learned of his enormous fortune. The next day, he left his work.
He found it difficult to adjust to his unexpected fortune, which started to disappear as a lengthy queue of friends and acquaintances started requesting handouts.
The father of two was in a sad and lonely place two years later in October 2019 when a neighbour advised seeking assistance from a clairvoyant “who allegedly knew about money.”
He met Kim Helmbright, who not only provided health and life counselling but also handled his money and legal problems, and he began to seek her assistance on all parts of his life.
Over the course of the next seven months, Helmbright offered Mr. Lipsham advice on everything from breathing techniques to reducing alcohol use while advising him to cut off contact with family and friends.
After Helmbright informed Mr. Lipsham that she was “extremely costly and I prefer to be paid when I ask for it,” he wired her $70,000, which he assumed to be payment for her services.
He claims to have given Helmbright NZ$2.8 million in December 2019 to settle home acquisitions made on his behalf at the same time he entered the real estate market.
After spending many months visiting family, Mr. Lipsham was informed by Helmbright that there were difficulties with the house acquisitions, forcing him to relocate into a hotel when he returned to Auckland in March 2020.
He alleges that when he contacted Helmbright two months later asking for an update on his finances and new house, he received a harsh reply.
“You message me out of the blue after six weeks without speaking to me. According to the New Zealand Herald, she texted, “I am not taking your phone as I am not going to have you talking to me in that way.”
When Mr. Lipsham’s money balance reached NZ$12 million, he made the decision to cut his professional links with Helmbright.
Ultimately, it wasn’t much of a help. I was genuinely cheated out of a fair amount of money,’ he said to the newspaper.
“I’m simply going to let it go,” I said to myself. I’ve already gone through this trying period. I don’t want to experience that once again. I’m simply going to use what I have.
After originally deciding to cut his losses, Mr. Lipsham subsequently ran across a buddy who promised to assist him in recovering his funds.
A search revealed that within three months of the NZ$2.8 million settlement, Helmbright had acquired two houses in her own name.
According to Mr. Lipsham, who claimed Helmbright had purchased the property with money that was “fraudulently acquired,” Helmbright had both properties legally frozen and legal court procedures started.
Last month, Helmbright testified before the High Court that the NZ$2.8 million was compensation for the services she rendered under a formal Freelancing Agreement and that she was allowed to spend the money anyway she saw fit.
The agreement was either pieced together by Helmbright or bought by her from an internet store, according to evidence presented in court.
Since then, a settlement has been reached outside of court.
Legal considerations, Mr. Lipsham said, prevented him from discussing the settlement’s specifics.
However, Land Information NZ data show that Helmbright recently transferred two properties to entities under the control of Mr. Lipsham.
When approached by the magazine, Helmbright rejected the fraud claim made in the caveat document but remained silent on other issues.
Mr. Lipsham claims that his financial situation has improved and that it is better than it has ever been.
He’s also looking forward to his forthcoming wedding and first-ever abroad vacation.
He also offered some words of wisdom to the fortunate Lotto winners who claim enormous windfalls.
“Don’t tell anyone.”