allaboutwomen

Greedy ex-spouses, mooching relatives and leeches masquerading as long-lost pals could “come out of the woodwork” to put the bite on tonight’s possible Mega Millions winner, warn several millionaires who’ve hit previous Bay State Lottery jackpots.

“Don’t answer your phone,” warned Doreen Ferrara, who won $4 million on a scratch ticket in 2001. “People come out of the woodwork and you just have to say no right from the beginning,” added Ferrara, who just retired from her job last year.

With a record $330 million up for grabs in tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot, the Herald contacted some of the nearly 1,400 who won a million or more over the past decade for advice, which included:

• Brace for old “friends” who come looking for a share of the loot.

• Finalize any divorce so you don’t have to fork over half your winnings to the former love of your life.

• Hire a good accountant, lawyer and financial planner even before cashing in the ticket.

• And don’t jump at the lump-sum payment before considering the tax consequences.

Olayne Wellington of Leominster, who cashed in her $1 million winning scratch ticket in 2008, said her life has been hell since word spread she was loaded.

“Money doesn’t bring happiness. It brings a lot of bullying,” she said. “There’s a lot of jealousy. I love the idea of winning, but I feel a lot of pressure.

“Be careful who you trust,” she added. “Know who your real friends are. It’s complicated.”

She said her husband is desperately trying to win again — spending up to $10,000 a year on the Lottery. “Everything’s about money around me and that’s sad,” she added.

Sandra Fischer of Hingham, the winner of a $5 million scratch ticket in 2009, urged winners to hire a lawyer and financial accountant before collecting their dough. Fischer said her good fortune allowed her to retire and take some great vacations — but people she hadn’t heard from in over two decades were suddenly her “best friend.”

Her response to these mooches: “ ‘You’d blown me off over 25 years ago. What makes you think I’m going to help you today? I’m sorry,’ ” said Fischer, who is in her early 50s and gets a $175,000 check every year for 20 years.

Ferrara, 56, who used some of her winnings to buy a house in Weymouth, wished her divorce was final before she cashed her scratch ticket.

“I was in the process of (getting a divorce), but he did not get half,” said Ferrara, who negotiated an 18 percent cut of her annual lottery check for her ex.

Ferrara said people she went to high school with — who she “didn’t really even know” — were calling her with their “sob stories.”