Couple withdraws money, flees after bank error

[fozzie 41]

There is probably a limit on how much they could withdraw without arousing suspicion. I doubt they got much of the money.

Banking Ombudsman Liz Brown said it is generally considered a criminal offense for people to spend money accidentally deposited into a bank account if they are aware that the cash is not theirs.

In her 15 years as banking Ombudsman, Brown said she had been involved in 10 to 20 similar cases.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_...RG7vEX5MyXtiBIF

Loop hole! They believed the cash was theirs. They had won the grand prize sign up bonus.

If you drop $6m dollars on my floor when you come to visit it's mine!!!

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Police launched an international search for two New Zealanders who allegedly took the money and ran after a bank mistakenly put 10 million New Zealand dollars ($6.1 million) into their account.

The couple, who operated a gas station in the northern city of Rotorua, applied to Westpac Bank for a NZ$10,000 ($6,000) overdraft, but 1,000 times that amount was paid into their account. The two then withdrew some of the money and disappeared, Detective Senior Sgt. David Harvey said.

Westpac said Thursday it considered the money to be stolen, but conceded it was human error at the bank that made the couple accidental millionaires. Authorities did not release their identities.

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 spokesman Craig Dowling said the huge deposit appeared to be the result of human error. He said the bank had recovered some of the money but declined to give details about the case.

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

Banking Ombudsman Liz Brown said it is generally considered a criminal offense for people to spend money accidentally deposited into a bank account if they are aware that the cash is not theirs.

In her 15 years as banking Ombudsman, Brown said she had been involved in 10 to 20 similar cases.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_...RG7vEX5MyXtiBIF

Haha, this is funny...I couldn't run, after all it is stealing BUT would pray that they would let me keep the interest Better yet, after the bank reclaims the money I’d create a frivolous lawsuit against the bank citing various forms of psychological anguish the incident had caused. That’s the American way!

[justashooter 430]

news reports indicate the couple are an australian woman and her boyfriend, who is named Gao. this is a common chinese surname. reports are they have escaped to mainland china. she will be easy to find, but he can dissappear with a fake ID card for about 200 Rmb.

[mawilson 2,133]

Cool!

With that kind of cash, they can easily buy new identities and disappear forever.

[Amby 490]

One time the bank put $1000 not $100 into my account when I deposited money. I didn't noticed until I looked at the deposit slip when I got home. I called the bank and told them, but the girl's drawer didn't come out wrong, so they told me there was no mistake. I went in there the next day to speak to them because I thought it was really odd and the lady kept telling me there was no errors on their part. I even spoke to the teller and she had no clue what I was on about

[AlHayatZween 2]

One time the bank put $1000 not $100 into my account when I deposited money. I didn't noticed until I looked at the deposit slip when I got home. I called the bank and told them, but the girl's drawer didn't come out wrong, so they told me there was no mistake. I went in there the next day to speak to them because I thought it was really odd and the lady kept telling me there was no errors on their part. I even spoke to the teller and she had no clue what I was on about

So you got to keep the 900 clams?

Cool......

[Amby 490]

One time the bank put $1000 not $100 into my account when I deposited money. I didn't noticed until I looked at the deposit slip when I got home. I called the bank and told them, but the girl's drawer didn't come out wrong, so they told me there was no mistake. I went in there the next day to speak to them because I thought it was really odd and the lady kept telling me there was no errors on their part. I even spoke to the teller and she had no clue what I was on about

So you got to keep the 900 clams?

Cool......

yeah but I felt bad about it for a long time! I tried to tell them it wasn't mine and they didn't believe me. I eventually gave up after a few weeks of bugging them. happened like 6yrs ago.

eta: I still haven't spent that money. I don't use that account anymore, but it has like $978 in it

Edited May 21, 2009 by Amby

[Sandrila 1]

soon that couple will realize there is no amount of money worth your freedom or resting easy at night.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Don't feel bad, Amby...

Maybe you had a good karmic moment?

Money keeps disappearing from my account...

Very bad karma stewing over here!!!

Edited May 21, 2009 by AlHayatZween

[Sandrila 1]

One time the bank put $1000 not $100 into my account when I deposited money. I didn't noticed until I looked at the deposit slip when I got home. I called the bank and told them, but the girl's drawer didn't come out wrong, so they told me there was no mistake. I went in there the next day to speak to them because I thought it was really odd and the lady kept telling me there was no errors on their part. I even spoke to the teller and she had no clue what I was on about

So you got to keep the 900 clams?

Cool......

yeah but I felt bad about it for a long time! I tried to tell them it wasn't mine and they didn't believe me. I eventually gave up after a few weeks of bugging them. happened like 6yrs ago.

eta: I still haven't spent that money. I don't use that account anymore, but it has like $978 in it

amby...the money is still in that account????

what are you waiting for?

I have heard of honest but I think there is a statue of limitations that has already expired on that mistake

TIME TO GO SHOPPING

[Amby 490]

I'm really weird when it comes to following rules

[AlHayatZween 2]

I'm really weird when it comes to following rules

Word?

Now, see... i don't have that problem.

[mawilson 2,133]

soon that couple will realize there is no amount of money worth your freedom or resting easy at night.

That's where you're wrong. People have gone to prison for less.

[Heracles 417]

Dirty bastards that is my bank in Aus..

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Dirty bastards that is my bank in Aus..

Good!