What would you do if your bank accidentally deposited $10 million in your account? Would you transfer it to an offshore account and then run for it?

Couple finds $10 mil in their bank account, take it and run

A couple in New Zealand found an extra NZ10,000,000 in their bank account, so they transferred it offshore and split:

The pair, named in media reports as Leo Gao and Cara Young, could hardly believe their luck when they checked their account at Westpac bank on 5 May, hoping to find their request for a NZ$10,900 (£4,000) overdraft had been accepted.

Instead, the bank had deposited 1,000 times that amount: NZ$10m, or around £4m. With so many borrowers around the world constantly being told "no" by their creditors, here, finally, was a bank that liked to say "yes".

Last night the accidental millionaires from Rotorua, a tourist city on the north island overlooking, appropriately enough, the Bay of Plenty, are on an Interpol wanted list after fleeing with the bulk of their windfall two weeks ago.

What would you do if your bank accidentally deposited $10 million in your account? Would you transfer it to an offshore account and then run for it?

Hell yes I would.

And while I was on the lam I'd hire a good lawyer to argue "finders keepers" in case my ass ever got caught.

I'd think of running for it, definitely.

edit: Ooo, yes, Finders Keepers!

I'm sure I'd consider it, but I'd probably figure the anxiety of being a fugitive wouldn't be worth it....

More here:

New Zealand couple flee after finding £4m in their bank account

The local newspaper, the Rotorua Review, said a police official had been sent to China to search for the couple.

...

"The individuals associated with this account are believed to have left New Zealand and police were working through Interpol to locate those individuals," he said, adding that the bank had recovered some of the cash, thought to be about NZ$4m.

...

Experts do not expect it will take investigators long to catch up with the couple; the only question is how much they can splurge before they are found.

But they don't say why the experts think that....

Splurge?

I'm in Switzerland. My only splurge is chocolate, cheese, and a nice clock. The rest of that cash is in a numbered account. Or ten.

It appears the bank doesn't even know how much money it was. Maybe I'd go with "Wait! I didn't win the Nigerian lottery?!? My bad. So sorry. Here's your money back." And empty one or two of the accounts.

The only legal argument they would have is to prove that they legitimately thought they were supposed to get the money. Going on the lam probably negates that.

That said, I'd totally run for it.

Trudy, your relative spam disturbs me.

msbelle, sorry it's so tough. On the upside, mac is incredibly lucky and you've got a good therapist and a good plan. I hope it gets easier for you guys. I totally understand the appearance vs. the reality of kids' problems. My mother in law still doesn't use the word "autism" in any conversation about Owen's "issues" and still suggests that some of his behavioral quirks are all a big misunderstanding. It's nice to have a child that for all practical purposes presents as typical but that raises the bar for society's expectations, which sort of sucks.

Oh Kathy. That's beautiful. Thank you.

Edit: It is actually, slowly but surely, making me feel better.

OK, done shaking. Going to put on the Bouncing Souls (my alternative thereapy of choice to tie in another thread) and go home. I might get a chocolate cone when I take the dog for a walk.

msbelle, I have a friend who adopted 2 Eth boys, the older at 5 years. She lives in Cairo, so very much not your meatspace, and has a spouse, but I can hook you to her if that would help.

My twin sister just got a kick ass job offer from another company and is finally about to get paid what she's worth. AND my mom went home from the hospital this morning.

I declare today a win.