Couple withdraws money, flees after bank error

[Nagishkaw 510]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Police launched an international search for two New Zealanders who allegedly took the money and ran after a bank mistakenly put 10 million New Zealand dollars ($6.1 million) into their account.

The couple, who operated a gas station in the northern city of Rotorua, applied to Westpac Bank for a NZ$10,000 ($6,000) overdraft, but 1,000 times that amount was paid into their account. The two then withdrew some of the money and disappeared, Detective Senior Sgt. David Harvey said.

Westpac said Thursday it considered the money to be stolen, but conceded it was human error at the bank that made the couple accidental millionaires. Authorities did not release their identities.

Harvey said Interpol has been contacted for help, suggesting authorities believe they may have fled abroad with the cash.

"We are currently conducting an investigation into the individuals that may have been involved in the withdrawal of that money," Harvey said.

Westpac spokesman Craig Dowling said the huge deposit appeared to be the result of human error. He said the bank had recovered some of the money but declined to give details about the case.

Westpac Bank said in a statement it was "pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen," but declined further comment.

Banking Ombudsman Liz Brown said it is generally considered a criminal offense for people to spend money accidentally deposited into a bank account if they are aware that the cash is not theirs.

In her 15 years as banking Ombudsman, Brown said she had been involved in 10 to 20 similar cases.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_...RG7vEX5MyXtiBIF

[SirJon 0]

Why does the bank never make that sort of error on my account?

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Ah!

Sweet....

Don't recommend this - but HA!

[Nagishkaw 510]

I'd run, too!

[pRetTy_aNgeL 1]

Bank error on my account.....

[almaty 19]

i be hising out in almaty kz....paying off the president for life...

[scandal 951]

This happened to me once many years ago when I was still a college student.

Bank deposited $10,000 in my account. By the next morning it was gone.

[almaty 19]

damn, i bet you party like it was 1999

[chnst 6]

damn, i bet you party like it was 1999

[Niels Bohr 72]

Good for them. It'll probably take them more than 40 years to make that amount. Go live in another country!

[Dr. Obvious 49]

So was the human error person fired?

[_Simpson_ 250]

No! not good for them, its stealing

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Of course I would of put it in a savings account and skim the interest off.

[reeses16 8]

Of course I would of put it in a savings account and skim the interest off.

My thoughts exactly!

[J2A♥oasis 2]

Banking Ombudsman Liz Brown said it is generally considered a criminal offense for people to spend money accidentally deposited into a bank account if they are aware that the cash is not theirs.

In her 15 years as banking Ombudsman, Brown said she had been involved in 10 to 20 similar cases.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_...RG7vEX5MyXtiBIF

Loop hole! They believed the cash was theirs. They had won the grand prize sign up bonus.