Friday, May 22, 2009

And just why is the bank surprised?


I'm laughing at a report from New Zealand.

Police in New Zealand are hunting a couple who disappeared after a bank accidentally paid ten million dollars into their account.

Huan Di Zhang and Hui Gao received $NZ 10 million (US $6.22 million) after asking Westpac Bank for a $NZ 10,000 (US $6,220) overdraft, reports local media.

The couple ran a service station, in Rotorua, which shut down earlier this month after owner, Heights Service Limited, went into receivership.

"The individuals associated with this account are believed to have left New Zealand and police are working through Interpol to locate those individuals," said Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey.

"At this time I am not prepared to disclose the amount of money involved, name the individuals or business involved, or discuss which country the individuals may be in right now," he added.


There's more at the link.

I have to admit, if my bank decided to add three zeroes to my overdraft request, and drop a few million into my account, and I noticed it first . . . I'm not saying I'd actually do what these two did, but boy, would I be tempted!



Peter

2 comments:

Carteach said...

I've heard such stories a few times over the years, and I've wondered how I would react.

I know, on small sums, my instinct is to go honest and I do it without thinking. There I've been tested.

I've had cash stacked in front of me in some very serious piles, in excess of 100K, and it was just somebody else's paper to deal with.

Make that a few million dropped into my account by mistake? I'm not sure.... but I suspect my basic nature would still hold steady, and I'd give the numbnuts at the bank a call.

Anonymous said...

I'd be too scared of the windfall profits tax to touch the money. "Take it back, get it away! Don't let the IRS know!!" Or something to that effect.
LittleRed1