Bank wants Hull teen to return $31,000 wrongly placed in his account

[Nye Bevan]

A banking error created a fat bank account for a Hull teenager, whom Madison County sheriff’s deputies said went on a spending spree and pocketed $20,000 in cash.

The error occurred March 7, when a Madison County man went into First Citizens Bank on U.S. Highway 29, Hull, and made a $31,000 deposit, but because there are several people by the same name with accounts at the bank, the teller put the money into the wrong account, according to the sheriff’s report.

On March 17, the victim called the bank about the money missing from his account. Tellers looked into the matter and discovered the error, deputies said. However, by that time, the 18-year-old Hull man who wrongly received the money had withdrawn $20,000 cash and spent $5,000 using his ATM card, deputies said.

The suspect came back into the Hull branch on March 18 wanting to withdraw more money, but a teller informed him of the mistake and asked him to return the money, deputies said. The teen then insisted the money was from an inheritance.

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2014-03-25/bank-wants-hull-teen-return-31000-wrongly-placed-his-account

I would have just assumed that the Nigerian Prince that I emailed my banking details to finally came through with the money from the "trunk box".

[PoliticAverse]

1. The kid should get some good legal advice and quickly. n/t

[In_The_Wind]

2. Yes, indeed!

[DiverDave]

32. No, he needs to give whats left back.

How could you not come to that conclusion?

He stole it, he knew it wasn't his.

[PoliticAverse]

34. Of course he does. But as he has not done so, it is apparent

he has not gotten good advice.

[bluestateguy]

3. The law is very clear on things like this

You have to return the money.

I don't side with banks very often.

Had the boy been honest from the beginning, however, I think they could have set him up with a free checking account (no balance minimum) and maybe a $250 reward.

[Coventina]

4. I'd invoke "Monopoly Rules"

Bank error, your favor!!!

[Brigid]

18. But as I recall,

you only get $200.

[Coventina]

28. Rats! You're right!

[RoBear]

31. Yeh, but

isn't that in 1936 money? Have to adjust it for inflation, no?

[ck4829]

5. Isn't this what deposit insurance is for?

The bank should be explaining itself to the victim and making an insurance claim, not going after the guy who they pretty much gave money to.

[erpowers]

6. They Should Also Go After Him

He could have told the bank that the money had been put in his account. I am pretty sure he was aware that the money was not his.

[rocktivity]

7. DING DING DING! CK, you're our grand prize winner!

Last edited Sat Oct 19, 2019, 12:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Isn't this what deposit insurance is for?

The bank made the mistake, it should up to the bank to replace the depositor's money!


rocktivity

[JJChambers]

8. Wtf

Of course the bank should replace the victims money. And they ALSO should go after the thief. And make no mistake: taking something that doesn't belong to you makes you a thief and is a crime. That's why there are laws against taking things that are lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

[taught_me_patience]

10. DU has jumped the shark

People are now advocating that thieves have a right to keep thousands of dollars based on an accident.

[B2G]

17. Not to worry

When it comes out that he's a privileged white kid, they'll call for his public stoning.

We're consistent that way.

[bowens43]

30. the id stole the money. he knew it wasnt his.

[taught_me_patience]

9. Deposit insurance is in case the bank goes bankrupt

This is a case of a mistake and the teen needs to give the money back.

[Mariana]

11. What happens if he really can't give it back?

I'm curious how it would play out in that case. Suppose he blew the money at a casino or something, so it's really and truly gone, and he and his family have no assets to pay it back with. I imagine he gets prosecuted, but that doesn't make the money magically appear. What happens to the poor sod whose account was emptied?

[B2G]

14. The bank will cover it and

write if off as a loss.

[taught_me_patience]

15. I guarantee you the money is already in his account

They'll seek restitution with the kid and if he doesn't pay up, likely criminal prosecution and they'll just write off the loss. Teller will probably be fired.

[Boom Sound 416]

33. No. That's if the bank bankrupts

[SummerSnow]

12. Oh really..

[B2G]

13. "Kid" is about to be in a heap of trouble

And rightfully so.

[Ex Lurker]

35. as is the teller

who probably doesn't have a job now.

[Capt. Obvious]

16. I don't see the big deal

[Dr. Strange]

19. Well...

[Capt. Obvious]

22. Can't afford bail

[Dr. Strange]

26. It only gets worse...

[Capt. Obvious]

27. Tears

[Brigid]

21. So I did recall correctly.

[ellie]

20. I worked as a teller while in college

One day we were offline and this couple came through my drive thru and cashed a check for $20. They were known customers; they were in several times a week. I cashed the check because the last update we had of their account said they had the money but in reality, they were overdrawn. They refused to pay the money back and it went against me although they were known customers and we were offline. $20 is different from $31,000 but still.
I hated that job.

[Jefferson23]

23. I hope he is smart and hires an attorney,..I did not see any mention about his parents.

He may not be able to return it as quickly as the bank wants him to but he has to return it.

You gave me a good laugh with this: I would have just assumed that the Nigerian Prince that I emailed my banking details to finally came through with the money from the "trunk box" lol

[B2G]

25. The rest of the article:

A deputy went to the teen’s house, where the teen again said he thought the money came from his grandmother’s estate.

The deputy told the teen the bank wants the money back as soon as possible, so the teen told the officer he would go to the bank and try to settle the matter without going to jail, according to the report.

However, the teen never showed back at the bank and banking officials told investigators last week that if the suspect didn’t return the money, they would prosecute.

No charges have been filed yet, Investigator Doug Martin said Tuesday.

[Jefferson23]

29. Thanks, I did read that and there is no mention of his parents..just that he claims

to have received the money from his grandmother which is evidently a lie.

Since he did not show up at the bank, it makes me wonder if he won't be able
to give the money back right away..thus my thoughts he should have an attorney.
He made a mistake to withdraw the funds and not showing good faith when he
did not return to the bank to speak with them.

Due to his actions so far, if he is not careful, the situation could go from bad
to worse, quickly.

[The2ndWheel]

24. He withdrew $20,000 in under 10 days?

Should be easy to clear up. Just wait and see if that inheritance money shows up.

The kid's an idiot, any way you slice it. Even if the inheritance was real, he's going to take all the money out in a matter of days and spend it?