We're stupid, so you're a criminal.

[bwind22]

From Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Police are looking for a New Zealand couple who disappeared after a bank mistakenly put 10 million New Zealand dollars ($6.1 million) into their account.

The couple, who ran a gas station in the northern city of Rotorua, applied to Westpac Bank for a NZ$10,000 ($6,000) overdraft and had 1000 times that amount paid into their account. The two then withdrew some of the money and disappeared, Detective Senior Sgt. David Harvey said.

Harvey said Interpol has been contacted for help, suggesting authorities believe they may have fled abroad with the cash.

"We are currently conducting an investigation into the individuals that may have been involved in the withdrawal of that money," Harvey said.

Westpac Bank said in a statement it was "pursing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen," but declined further comment.

Massey University banking lecturer Claire Matthews said the "lucky" recipients likely would not get away with the cash.

"They've effectively, I guess, become thieves — but it is only going to be a matter of time" before they are found, she told the NewstalkZB radio network.

The pair would be hard pressed to argue they honestly believed they were entitled to such a huge sum of money, she added.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/...d_bank_blunder


If your bank mistakenly put millions of dollars in your account, are you a thief if you withdraw & use it?

Personally, I say no. The bank fucked up, not the accountholder. If I went to the ATM & found out my account had a million dollars in it all of a sudden, better believe I'd be withdrawing that cash as quick as I possibly could.

If you go to McDonalds and get an extra burger mistakenly thrown in your to go bag. Are you a thief if you eat it? Of course not. This is the exact same principle on a much larger scale.

Thoughts?

[cheebacheeba]

I think they should file for emotional grief. To have that much and have them say "nope, fuck off' would mess with your head.
I say they're entitled to a quarter.

Yes, I'd take as much as I could, close the account if I could get away with it.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Whilst it would be damn tempting, it is against the law to take it if you know that the money got into your account in error.

If you could withdraw it all somehow and escape to a place without an extradition agreement, then you might get away with it, but the bank is not going to not notice they accidentally gave you $10,000,000.

With reference to the McDonald's example - yeah, if you get an extra burger in your bag and you eat it, it is the same thing. The difference is that a burger isn't worth $10,000,000 and it can't be used if you give it back. So, in other words, it is just as illegal but there is no benefit in pursuing it.

[Elvis_Christ]

I wonder how much they actually got to withdraw from the account?

I hope it was lots and they get away with it!

[roshiq]

Originally Posted by cheebacheeba

I think they should file for emotional grief. To have that much and have them say "nope, fuck off' would mess with your head.
I say they're entitled to a quarter.

Yes, I'd take as much as I could, close the account if I could get away with it.

Agree but as it's sound funny I think they are just a part of a big scam; even some bank officials might involved in it.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Originally Posted by Elvis_Christ

I wonder how much they actually got to withdraw from the account?

I hope it was lots and they get away with it!

Well yeah that's the point. ATM's usually only allow you to withdraw about $1000 a day. Over the counter transactions won't just give you large amounts of cash without you prearranging the withdrawal with the branch.

[Elvis_Christ]

I wonder how long till it was discovered? Wonder if they paid their loan back with it :D

How much can you transfer over internet banking?

[milktoaste]

This same thing happened in Arizona about 15 years ago. Some bank added a couple zeros to some guys account by mistake. That guy only took his girlfriend out on a nice dinner date before reporting the mistake himself. I believe the bank let him keep a small reward for his honesty.

The two NZer's though totally broke the law. They clearly knew they weren't entitled to that money-as tempting as it may have been, it was wrong.

[Roderick Usher]

taking something that you clearly know is not your is theft.

[scouse mac]

Originally Posted by Roderick Usher

taking something that you clearly know is not your is theft.

Totally agree.


When they withdrew the money they knew it didnt belong them, the fact the bank screwed up is irrelevant, so its still theft.