COUPLE WITHDRAWS MONEY FLEES AFTER BANK ERROR

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15 years 6 months ago #1 by demonicdreamz

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- 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.

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15 years 6 months ago #2 by finster
what happened to good old fashioned robberies ?like in POINT BREAK

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