Say by some freak accident the bank deposits 250,000 dollars into your account. No one will ever know, not even the bank, that this error occured except for you.
Would you keep the money?
2007-09-09 10:04:01 · 12 answers · asked by Glen B 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You also have an accumulated debt of 50,000 dollars and unpaid medical bills of 150,000 dollars ultimately leaving you 50,000 dollars to spend freely. Do you keep it to pay off expenses or give it back?
2007-09-09 10:05:12 · update #1
Mike; Yes, I've heard of internal audits. Was that included in the question? Stick to an answer or don't answer the question at all, skippy. Understand?
2007-09-09 10:21:13 · update #2
Dear god people. Let me spell it out. HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING ...
2007-09-09 10:30:14 · update #3
I'd keep the money and keep my mouth shut. Absolutely keep the money.
2007-09-09 10:12:35 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You state the no one will ever know. Have you ever heard the word AUDIT?Banks regularly AUDIT accounts (check for accuracy) to make sure the right amount is in each and that all debits and credits balance out to zero. If your account was credited with $ 250,000, some other account somewhere was debited (CHARGED) with that amount. Do you think that account's owner will just say nothing? If your account had been CHARGED with that amount (assuming you had that big a balance) would you say NOTHING, or would you immediately tell the bank about the error? Whoever legally and properly owns those funds will want them back, and they are NOT yours to keep. IMMEDIATELY that you discover such an error, notify the bank. There may even be a reward for your honesty, but in NO CASE will you just be allowed to keep those funds or use them for your own purposes.
2007-09-09 17:11:46 · answer #2 · answered by Mike 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has happened before. The bank always catches the error eventually. Either a computer catches it, ot the owner of the proper account notices it gone. If you have spent the money, they want it back, and you are sued. A judge looks you right in the eye and tells you there is no defence for keeping and spending money you know is merely misplaced. I would not take the chance. It is not the sme as finding a $20 bill sitting on the sidewalk.
2007-09-09 17:21:43 · answer #3 · answered by Fred C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not in any way will the bank not know its given you too much money, it does happen that a bank give someone to much money and they take it back within a day or so. Maybe in some far off day,before you had computers you could theoretically get a way with it, but nowadays, you might just as well wait for unicorns to fly
I would return the money
I wouldn't sleep wondering if today was going to be the day they found me..
2007-09-09 17:15:02 · answer #4 · answered by justa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wait 45 days that's how long the bank has legally to catch the error after that they can do nothing about it
there was a similar case a few years back where a guy cashed one of those this could be yours checks for 450,000 dollars the bank caught it 50 something days later and took him to court the court found that the bank exceeded its reasonable mistake limit of 45 days he got to keep the money.
2007-09-09 17:20:24 · answer #5 · answered by Nick 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
from a moral stand point, you should give it back.
if you are a guy who likes free money keep it....
BUT i think this just the beginning. i mean the could just keep adding his debts on to you. i think its a trick and i would personally straighten things out before someone really drops it on you. If you did the right thing i dont think anything bad would happem. a free 50,000 dollars is WAY too fishy. u better find out who it is.
2007-09-09 17:14:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I leave the money in a seperate account and take low interest loans out against it until I'm caught up on my bills, and I'm sure the coast is clear.
Then I buy a house with it and pay cash!
Oh yea and in case anyone from the IRS is reading this.......I pay my taxes on it!
2007-09-09 18:13:11 · answer #7 · answered by whitiepossum 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are absolutely and positively required to pay it back. If they don't say anything, inform them. If they then say that no, it was NOT a mistake, things change.
If you do not inform them and they come for it, you are liable for the total amount on the spot or are considered to have stolen the amount unpaid.
2007-09-09 17:16:44 · answer #8 · answered by Tom K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unrealistic, but if it's safe to assume that the money does actually belong to somebody else, then I would give it back.
I don't want to define my character by greed, selfishness and lack of integrity.
2007-09-09 17:16:56 · answer #9 · answered by John 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to turn it in. If I'm going to sell my integrity, it would take millions and millions of dollars, not just $250,000.
2007-09-09 21:21:19 · answer #10 · answered by Mama Pastafarian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under the conditions of your question, yes I would keep the money.
2007-09-09 18:37:44 · answer #11 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋