If you were walking down the street and you found an envelope with $500 in it, is it illegal to keep it?

Question

If you returned it to its rightful owner, you'll only end up getting a $500 or $400 reward anyway.

Answer 1

Legal, Yes
Ethical, No

You should take it to the nearest Police station, turn it in and get a receipt. If no-one claims it within a certain time (UK is 3 weeks) then you can go back with your receipt and claim it for yourself.
I found 450.UK once and did this. 3 weeks later, the money was mine!
:-D

Answer 2

If I were walking down the street and found an envelope with $500 in it would it be illegal to keep it? No it is not illegal to keep it. Unless there is some sort of realistic way of knowing whoever dropped it, one does not go around asking for claimants.

Answer 3

Most jurisdictions have statutes dealing with what is called "Conversion of Found Property." The law requires that a person finding a thing of value such as this to make a "Good Faith effort fo Find the True Owner." Most people turn this sort of property over to the police simply to protect themselves from a charge of theft. The property is usually considered abandoned after 30 days, at which time the finder can get title to it.

Answer 4

I will not sell my integerty for a lousy $500. Now a $1,000,000 would be a different matter.

If I could identify the owner, I would make an effort to return the money. I would not turn it in to the police because they would keep it for themselves. The police are theives; they would not make any attempt to return it to the rightful owner.

Answer 5

It is more of a moral question. Would you feel comfortable keeping it? The right thing to do is to take it to the police. Such a temptation! Only you can answer that question for yourself. If I found it I would turn it in as I'd feel guilty and worry that in was someones pay. Most police stations will take your info and if unclaimed give it back to you. In Canada I beleive it's 90 days. Good Luck in your choice

Answer 6

Yes it is illegal to keep the money , it might be a little old Lady's life savings ,hand it in to the nearest police station were you found the envelope .

Answer 7

It's not illegal, but it's immoral to make no effort to find the rightful owner. An easy solution is pick it up discreetly and put it in your pocket. Hang around as long as you can or leave a sign or note at that area saying "did you lose something here? call (your phone number)". If anyone calls and can tell you what they lost exactly, you probably have the rightful owner and should return it.

Answer 8

usually you will possibly checklist it to the police and there could be a waiting era (i think it incredibly is often 30 days) for somebody to declare it (they might desire to furnish information of a few type - a financial business enterprise receipt or some thing that could desire to make it very in all likelihood that the money replaced into theirs). i think if no one claims it then it would bypass to you. concepts you the police are not going to publish a flier (think of what proportion persons are "finding" for "their" $500.00 obtainable) - they might attempt to verify it to any calls they gained approximately somebody dropping the money. additionally remember, save $500 now - you will possibly be able to unfastened $5000 later, superb to have sincere intentions to avert karmic repercussions.

Answer 9

I was wondering where my envelope went? lol jk
If the envelope was sealed or has a name on it when you found it, I think so. But if it was just a random one with no name on it. Finders keepers right? It's more of a moral thing than a legal one. Choose wisely. What would you want someone do to if they found YOUR envelope?

Answer 10

If it's all cash ..Yeees. But a good Samaritan would take it to the police department (lost and found) wait for the proper owner to step up and claim it... you may get rewarded but it's more for the heart and soul. If it goes 30 days unclaimed .. It's your Baby, fair and square!!