Would you take the money?

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:07 am

Just for fun.

A couple in New Zealand had their bank accidentally credit them with six million dollars (US). They were your average couple it seems - owned a gas station, had a normal life. They promptly withdrew as much money as they could from their account when the error occured and left the country.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/ ... topStories

If your bank put several MILLION dollars into your account, and you had the ability to withdraw it, would you take the money and run?

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:11 am

Nah. I'd ask for a print out of my bank statement for prosperity though.

- Joel Fagin

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:52 am

For the record, I said 'Maybe'. I'd like to think that I would do the right thing; and I've found hundreds of dollars and given it to the owner before. But... millions? From a nameless, faceless bank? I'd like to think I'd be the honest guy, but I would be at a minimum, sorely, sorely tempted.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:10 am

Oh man. If I found a wallet lying around, I'd return it. But millions of dollars accidentally credited to my account? I'd be fucking *gone*

Then I'd organize the end-all of cookouts, fly around the world, buy an awesome computer, some stuff for the family, and then die happy

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:28 am

I think I would return it, but you can never be sure about these kinds of hypothetical situations. If I had to flee the country because of that, then I'm pretty sure I would return it.
I think that I would quickly close my account there though... doesn't exactly fill you with confidence, right?

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:34 am

McDuffies wrote:I think I would return it, but you can never be sure about these kinds of hypothetical situations. If I had to flee the country because of that, then I'm pretty sure I would return it.

Depends what country you're leaving

Netpoet · Post by **Netpoet** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:38 am

I'd be sorely tempted, sure... who wouldn't? But seeing as how my bank gives me interest based on my daily balance (it accrues daily and is given at the end of each week), I'd be more tempted to just leave it there and see how much interest I ended up getting off of it.

I'm almost 100% positive they'd let me have the interest on the money, especially if I left it alone and did the right thing... and then I'd have a few days of stupidly high interest accrued. Going off of rough math...

At 6 million dollars, 1.75% interest yearly, that'd be $105,000 a year, or $287.67 a day of interest.

If it took them a week to catch it, I'd have an extra paycheck in my account for nothing at all. I could live with that, and NOT going to jail because I grabbed the money and ran.

>Net

Bustertheclown · Post by **Bustertheclown** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:09 am

Realistically, I wouldn't take the money. A few million dollars probably wouldn't be enough resources to stay under the radar of international authorities which are trying to get the money back. It would be just too damned much hassle.

If, on the other hand, I could do it with full knowledge that I could get away with it somehow, I'd absolutely do it. I really have no moral qualms about doing such a thing. It's just the fact that it would be logistically unfeasible to keep the money and my sanity which would stop me.

Keffria · Post by **Keffria** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:18 am

Bustertheclown wrote:If, on the other hand, I could do it with full knowledge that I could get away with it somehow, I'd absolutely do it.

Yes, this. I am a terrible person restrained only by the fear of the consequences of my actions.

Laemkral · Post by **Laemkral** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:33 am

I said no. I'd probably do the right thing and report it because I'm honest like that. If there were to be no repercussions for taking it, then yeah, who wouldn't. THEN it's free money, and I'd like to meet the non-communist who'll say no to free money. But because the hypothetical states that the bank accidentally credited me with it, then its really not my money and it belongs to someone else. I'd hope and wish for a reward of sorts, but at the end of the day I'd do the right thing because it's the right thing.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:37 am

I'm leaning toward Net's idea. While I don't have interest accrue on my checking account, there's a good chance I'd just sit on the money. Perhaps the young couple's problem was that they took out a giant wad of cash all at once. If I only kept doing business as usual and the bank never noticed the error, I'd essentially be set for life.

Granted, I might make trips to the ATM a little more often, but still...

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:04 pm

Maybe. I'd look at the pros and cons quiz the teller and if it looked good to go I'd do a withdraw I'm sure.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:10 pm

Phact0rri wrote:Maybe. I'd look at the pros and cons quiz the teller

"Hey there, your bank just gave me six million dollars, do you think I should keep it?"

RPin · Post by **RPin** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:32 pm

Money was not actually given to them, as a credit limit, they'd have to return it to the bank sometime, no? Moral issues aside, this is all too risky to take the chances. If I was an experienced con-artist with the know-how and self-control to keep a low profile for years until everyone forgot about it, maybe...

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:39 pm

Laemkral wrote:I said no. I'd probably do the right thing and report it because I'm honest like that. If there were to be no repercussions for taking it, then yeah, who wouldn't. THEN it's free money, and I'd like to meet the non-communist who'll say no to free money. But because the hypothetical states that the bank accidentally credited me with it, then its really not my money and it belongs to someone else. I'd hope and wish for a reward of sorts, but at the end of the day I'd do the right thing because it's the right thing.

Well if bank said "since it's our cockup, you can keep the money", sure I'd keep it, but if that wasn't a case, regardless of whether I could get away with it or not, I'd have a nagging feeling of taking someone else's money.
I dunno, I guess I was raised not to value money too much, I mean it's something that comes and goes, and it's not worth doing something that would follow you through the life.

Dr Neo Lao · Post by **Dr Neo Lao** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:48 pm

Assuming I went to the bank to make my usual weekly withdrawal and my balance had a bunch of extra zeros on the end, my first instinct would be to go report it to the bank. All money transferred electronically gets traced and even if they (the bank) didn't notice it for months (or even years) there would still be traces of where the money went.

Plus in Australia, we have the wonderful "Proceeds of Crime Act" which (short version) says if someone has stupid amounts of money (say, an average service station owner with six million dollars) then the onus is on the person to prove to the tax department that they earned it legally - otherwise the government seizes the lot. You can't even say that you won the lotto or had a win at the casino or got an inheritance from wealthy overseas relative because you'd need to show receipts/transfer papers.

If I opened the door one day and found a big bag stuffed full of cash, I'd be undecided between leaving it alone and calling the police. People who leave bags full of cash lying around are not the sort of people you want to meet in the middle of night, and you definitely don't want them angry at you and wanting their money back. Especially if you've already spent it.

Actually, I can't think of any situations where one could get an unexpected big windfall of cash and be able to safely keep it. An expected windfall (such as winning the lotto - and I say "expected" in that you would have bought a ticket first) is different. Having taken millions of dollars and made a run for it, they will be constantly looking over their shoulder, suspicious of everyone they meet and unable to buy anything useful. Even buying a car needs paperwork to change ownership. They probably can't even talk to their family for fear of having their location reported.

If it was still the 50's then one could disappear and live a happy life with a few million. Nowadays? not really possible any more.

Tarts · Post by **Tarts** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:49 pm

I would donate it back to the government for recognition. Money's no good for me really, fame's where it's at. And praise. Remember, pride's the greatest of the 7 deadly sins.

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Fri May 22, 2009 3:00 pm

Killbert-Robby wrote:
Phact0rri wrote:Maybe. I'd look at the pros and cons quiz the teller
"Hey there, your bank just gave me six million dollars, do you think I should keep it?"

"hey teller how about we keep this between the two of us. 30/70 sound good?

BrownEyedCat · Post by **BrownEyedCat** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:33 pm

Nope, not a chance. First, because I like to think of myself as a moral person, and losing that much money in a simple accident would cause hell for someone, somewhere down the line. Second, because I'm basically a bundle of nerves and random terror. It's not simply that I would ear reprimand, or that I couldn't face the possibility of all the changes I'd have to make to keep the money - life on the run is RIGHT OUT - but I'm pretty sure I'd react to that new money as though it were some kind of toxic venom, and keeping it for too long would cause me to explode somehow.

Difficult moral questions are pretty easy when you're a coward.

Prettysenshi · Post by **Prettysenshi** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:57 pm

I would take it, and then give it all away.

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