Cha Ching! ATM Mistakenly Gives $37K to Homeless Man

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Here's the story.

ATM Mistakenly Gives $37K to Homeless Man

If no one was looking, what would you do?
  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post


    If no one was looking, what would you do?
    The ATM is always looking

    btw;
    I am that tard who gives the money back to the cashier when they give too much change.
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    • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
      Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

      The ATM is always looking

      btw;
      I am that tard who gives the money back to the cashier when they give too much change.
      So do I. Though I've gotta wonder what I'd do if it were a bank, seeing as how they've had such an unfair advantage for so long.
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      • Profile picture of the author LarryC
        Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

        So do I. Though I've gotta wonder what I'd do if it were a bank, seeing as how they've had such an unfair advantage for so long.
        Yes, I don't think I'd lose any sleep knowing that a bank spat out some extra money to me. But at the same time, I'd be aware that there are always cameras and, even more to the point, if I were logged into my account at the ATM it wouldn't be that hard to find me
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        • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
          Yes, a man in Au, got a few million in a similar fashion, and did a runner; from what l last heard he got caught!


          Not worth the effort!


          Shane
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

      The ATM is always looking

      btw;
      I am that tard who gives the money back to the cashier when they give too much change.
      So am I and it is not the only way that I am 'tarded.
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  • Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    Here's the story.

    ATM Mistakenly Gives $37K to Homeless Man

    If no one was looking, what would you do?
    According to the law, keeping money that obviously should not have been credited to you is considered larceny.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    That REALLY makes you wonder though! He constantly used a cash advance feature. FIRST, it shouldn't have worked, because he didn't have the option. It should have ALSO stopped because of a daily limit often imposed. THEN it should have been stopped because of ANOTHER limit likely imposed. THEN, what about the credit limit. YIKES!

    And SOME may do this on accident, so I wonder how much is GONE because of this bug.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      That REALLY makes you wonder though! He constantly used a cash advance feature. FIRST, it shouldn't have worked, because he didn't have the option. It should have ALSO stopped because of a daily limit often imposed. THEN it should have been stopped because of ANOTHER limit likely imposed. THEN, what about the credit limit. YIKES!

      And SOME may do this on accident, so I wonder how much is GONE because of this bug.

      Steve
      What if he'd taken less, so as not to cause the person behind him to make that call and complain? Would he have gotten away with it?
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        What if he'd taken less, so as not to cause the person behind him to make that call and complain? Would he have gotten away with it?
        I'm surprised we even heard about it. And how much DID he take? Remember, he could have been doing this for YEARS!

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          I'm surprised we even heard about it. And how much DID he take? Remember, he could have been doing this for YEARS!

          Steve
          Pretty sure this was a one shot deal. From the article: "A spokesperson chalked up the ATM glitch to a code error."
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        • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          I'm surprised we even heard about it. And how much DID he take? Remember, he could have been doing this for YEARS!

          Steve
          I don't think they would have called him homeless if
          he has done this multiple times.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I had an extra 500 show up in my account once because someone accidentally keyed someone else's deposit into my account. It's a no brainer. The money isn't mine. I can just imagine how upset the person who made the deposit was - especially if they needed it to live on, tried to use a debit card and found out they were broke. I'm sure the bank would have figured it out eventually, but the reaction I got when I called in and told them about it gives me the distinct impression that the bank had already heard from the owner of the money, LMAO.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Yeah, If you got away, you would always be looking behind you. But there ARE a lot of ways to get caught.

    Still, some homeless may buy cards, and COULD spend a day draining out the ATM, and always appear homeless. If the bank noticed the error, they might not be so quick to publicize it.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
      A few years ago, I was in line in a Great Western Bank in Southern California. The teller completed her transaction with a customer, who started to walk away, but turned back. "Excuse me, I think you've made a mistake," he said.

      "I don't think so, I don't make mistakes," she replied.

      "Sorry, but I've just counted the money you gave me, and it seems you have," he insisted.

      She was adamant and kept repeating several times that she didn't make mistakes.

      The customer turned to everyone in the line and asked us: "Did you hear her? I am mistaken, not the teller?"

      Several of us nodded.

      "Okay then," he said. "Seeing as you don't make mistakes, I'm obviously quite entitled to keep the extra $20 you've just given me. Thank you and have a nice day!"
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

        A few years ago, I was in line in a Great Western Bank in Southern California. The teller completed her transaction with a customer, who started to walk away, but turned back. "Excuse me, I think you've made a mistake," he said.

        "I don't think so, I don't make mistakes," she replied.

        "Sorry, but I've just counted the money you gave me, and it seems you have," he insisted.

        She was adamant and kept repeating several times that she didn't make mistakes.

        The customer turned to everyone in the line and asked us: "Did you hear her? I am mistaken, not the teller?"

        Several of us nodded.

        "Okay then," he said. "Seeing as you don't make mistakes, I'm obviously quite entitled to keep the extra $20 you've just given me. Thank you and have a nice day!"
        Well, I don't know about THEM, but I know at least a lot of banks have a beginning and ending tally. At the end of her shift there, she should catch the error. If she doesn't report it, it should be caught on the beginning of the next shift. But the customer did the proper thing. I mean he COULD have argued, or reported it elsewhere, but it would hurt the teller and upset the other people in the line. At least it was only $20!

        Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe Stewart
        Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

        A few years ago, I was in line in a Great Western Bank in Southern California. The teller completed her transaction with a customer, who started to walk away, but turned back. "Excuse me, I think you've made a mistake," he said.

        "I don't think so, I don't make mistakes," she replied.

        "Sorry, but I've just counted the money you gave me, and it seems you have," he insisted.

        She was adamant and kept repeating several times that she didn't make mistakes.

        The customer turned to everyone in the line and asked us: "Did you hear her? I am mistaken, not the teller?"

        Several of us nodded.

        "Okay then," he said. "Seeing as you don't make mistakes, I'm obviously quite entitled to keep the extra $20 you've just given me. Thank you and have a nice day!"
        It would have been just as easy for him to humble himself and say something like "I have no doubt that you're very good at what you do, maam'. Could you please check MY math, then? I think I may have more money here than what I asked for."

        Then she could see for herself that she made a mistake without feeling threatened. Make sense?

        Yes, some people are arrogant and need to be brought down to reality sometimes, but it can be done tactfully. Everyone makes mistakes.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Joe Stewart View Post

          Yes, some people are arrogant and need to be brought down to reality sometimes, but it can be done tactfully. Everyone makes mistakes.
          GOOD ideas, but she said she DIDN'T make mistakes!

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author Joe Stewart
            Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

            GOOD ideas, but she said she DIDN'T make mistakes!

            Steve

            My point exactly. By humbling himself and asking her to check "his" math for the mistake, she would have had no choice but to admit to the error once she did a recount. The math doesn't lie and he would have done it in a way that was very non-offensive.

            If she refused to look at it, then he should have walked over to the bank manager and told them what happened.

            Walking out of the bank with money that he KNEW didn't belong to him is still stealing. He should have simply given it to someone else that wasn't as perfect as her. :-)
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      • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
        Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

        A few years ago, I was in line in a Great Western Bank in Southern California. The teller completed her transaction with a customer, who started to walk away, but turned back. "Excuse me, I think you've made a mistake," he said.

        "I don't think so, I don't make mistakes," she replied.

        "Sorry, but I've just counted the money you gave me, and it seems you have," he insisted.

        She was adamant and kept repeating several times that she didn't make mistakes.

        The customer turned to everyone in the line and asked us: "Did you hear her? I am mistaken, not the teller?"

        Several of us nodded.

        "Okay then," he said. "Seeing as you don't make mistakes, I'm obviously quite entitled to keep the extra $20 you've just given me. Thank you and have a nice day!"
        worse then that ...

        My bank gave me a fake $100.00 bill.

        I got kind of grumpy when they refused to fix it.
        I understand why they refused, but still there is nothing
        like the feeling that your bank just pulled a fast one on you.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

          worse then that ...

          My bank gave me a fake $100.00 bill.

          I got kind of grumpy when they refused to fix it.
          I understand why they refused, but still there is nothing
          like the feeling that your bank just pulled a fast one on you.
          WOW! I would try to push that, but wonder how they would prove anything. I have had places freely give me canadian quarters, but just TRY to pay it BACK to them, and they catch it ASAP!!!!! At the time, a canadian quarter was worth about $.18.

          Steve
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