Fierce OR Nerdy: Bank Error in Your Favor
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a blogumn by slpc
We had a good showing of hands last week. Twenty-three votes (61%) went to Soldiers, leaving Dinosaurs with only 15 votes (39%). Even though Land of the Lost was in the losing category (and the reviews aren’t winning either), I’m still looking forward to seeing it this weekend. (But then, I sat through the Will Ferrell episode of Man Vs. Wild a couple nights ago, so I’m obviously a glutton for punishment.)
This week, I bring you your first Fierce OR Nerdy moral dilemma.
Almost a month ago, Leo Gao and Cara Young, the now infamous New Zealand couple, were reported missing after an employee at Westpac Bank made a rather large error in their favor. Instead of depositing $61,000 into the couple’s nearly bankrupt account, the teller forgot the decimal and deposited 6.1 million. The next day, the couple fled the country with all the money they could withdraw: 3.8 million. They flew to Hong Kong. They hit up casinos in Macau. And now, nearly a month later, they’re still on the lam, having evaded police on two continents, private detectives, and Interpol. It’s beginning to look like Leo and Cara actually got away with it.
So, what would you do if 6.2 million landed in your bank account? Would you be fiscally responsible? Or would you take the money and run?
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[poll id=”14″]
I voted "return it" with a caveat. I would keep it if I knew I'd never get caught. This couple is going to be nabbed eventually, and honestly, how satisfying is a life constantly on the run?
Wow, I am nerdy.
I voted "return it" with a caveat. I would keep it if I knew I'd never get caught. This couple is going to be nabbed eventually, and honestly, how satisfying is a life constantly on the run?
Wow, I am nerdy.
I'm just hugely superstitious about karma and the like, so I would have to return, just b/c I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Also, on a Faustian level, I am deeply suspicious of receiving any money that I do not earn. I always think that something bad will come of it (kind of like Hurley on Lost), which is why I don't play the lottery either.
But if real or imagined karma weren't standing in my way, I would not live a flashy lifestyle after I stole this money. I'd probably move to some private island and just lay low for the rest of my life. After all 3 million won't take you that far if you burn through it, partying. I'm fairly sure this couple will get caught any day now.
I'm just hugely superstitious about karma and the like, so I would have to return, just b/c I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Also, on a Faustian level, I am deeply suspicious of receiving any money that I do not earn. I always think that something bad will come of it (kind of like Hurley on Lost), which is why I don't play the lottery either.
But if real or imagined karma weren't standing in my way, I would not live a flashy lifestyle after I stole this money. I'd probably move to some private island and just lay low for the rest of my life. After all 3 million won't take you that far if you burn through it, partying. I'm fairly sure this couple will get caught any day now.
small editorial note: after reading several more articles on the couple, it seems that the girlfriend's name is actually Kara Yang-Hurring (it's different in almost every article). Kara's sister was also along for the ride, but went back to New Zealand after getting her fill of the fugitive life. reportedly, she enjoyed the highlife while it lasted.
small editorial note: after reading several more articles on the couple, it seems that the girlfriend's name is actually Kara Yang-Hurring (it's different in almost every article). Kara's sister was also along for the ride, but went back to New Zealand after getting her fill of the fugitive life. reportedly, she enjoyed the highlife while it lasted.
RUN!!!
To the Cayman Islands, where banks say "No Problem, Mon."
Then invest 80% of of it in a bearish mutual fund and enjoy cocktails in the sand until death.
Then go straight to hell.
RUN!!!
To the Cayman Islands, where banks say "No Problem, Mon."
Then invest 80% of of it in a bearish mutual fund and enjoy cocktails in the sand until death.
Then go straight to hell.
How about put it in a high yield savings account and keep the interest when they finally ask for it back.
i'm pretty sure you'd lose the interest to all the lawsuits that would surely follow.
That was actually CH typing on my computer who made that comment. But they can't sue you for a mistake they made if you actually give the money back when they ask for it.
i would assume they could sue you for the interest they lost on that money…
Say you transferred all the money into an ING account. Then they told you "oops, we made a mistake." At the most it would take you two days to get it back into your bank account. And since it was a banking error, I doubt they could sue you. What would the suit claim?
i assume if they could arrest you on "counts of receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to commit theft" (as they did to the pennsylvanian couple earlier this year who "accepted" a 175k bank error) that the bank could sue you for the interest they lost on the money. i'm not sure.
but at the very least, banking contracts contain fine print that tell you to call the bank when you notice a banking error, so they could sue you for breaking that contract. there's no way you can argue "i thought those mysterious millions of dollars were mine."
i'm just playing jesus' advocate. i'm all for stealing the money.
How about put it in a high yield savings account and keep the interest when they finally ask for it back.
i'm pretty sure you'd lose the interest to all the lawsuits that would surely follow.
That was actually CH typing on my computer who made that comment. But they can't sue you for a mistake they made if you actually give the money back when they ask for it.
i would assume they could sue you for the interest they lost on that money…
Say you transferred all the money into an ING account. Then they told you "oops, we made a mistake." At the most it would take you two days to get it back into your bank account. And since it was a banking error, I doubt they could sue you. What would the suit claim?
i assume if they could arrest you on "counts of receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to commit theft" (as they did to the pennsylvanian couple earlier this year who "accepted" a 175k bank error) that the bank could sue you for the interest they lost on the money. i'm not sure.
but at the very least, banking contracts contain fine print that tell you to call the bank when you notice a banking error, so they could sue you for breaking that contract. there's no way you can argue "i thought those mysterious millions of dollars were mine."
i'm just playing jesus' advocate. i'm all for stealing the money.
Your blogs is really interesting. enjoyed going through it.
Your blogs is really interesting. enjoyed going through it.
You have to admit that, scruples aside, given the opportunity to escape with a young, totally gorgeous Warren Beatty at the wheel of a hot 1930's vintage car to the tune of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," who WOULDN'T run?!?!?!?!
seriously.
You have to admit that, scruples aside, given the opportunity to escape with a young, totally gorgeous Warren Beatty at the wheel of a hot 1930's vintage car to the tune of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," who WOULDN'T run?!?!?!?!
seriously.
burn notice is the best
burn notice is the best