-
Source: ONE News
Police are looking for a Rotorua couple who may have fled New Zealand with millions of dollars that was accidentally transferred into their bank account.
Westpac Bank is working with police to track down the couple who
were inadvertently made millionaires when a large amount of money
was mistakenly deposited into their business account by the
bank.
Police believe they have left New Zealand, taking much of the money
with them.
Massey University banking lecturer Claire Matthews says the couple are dreaming if they think they're going to get away with it.
She says it is only going to be a matter of time before police catch up with them.
"They've taken funds that they're not entitled to, that are not theirs.
"They've effectively, I guess, become thieves but it is only
going to be a matter of time."
Westpac says they're unable to name the exact figure that is
missing or how the mistake happened.
Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey told Radio New Zealand some of the money had been withdrawn.
"We are currently conducting an investigation into the individuals that may have been involved in the withdrawl of that sum of money," he said.
"At this stage I'm not in a position to name either the business or the amount of money which was inappropriately put into the account."
Police would not say which country the account's owner may have gone to but have sought assistance from Interpol.
What would you do? Run with the money or give it back?
Ever found a sum of money in your account, you knew wasn't your?
Share on our message board below!
Do you know anything about the couple who have fled? If so
we would love to hear from you. Contact our news team at
news@tvnz.co.nz
Add a Comment:
Post new commentsiping said on 2009-08-28 @ 16:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think Mr bentley is either living in a dream world or has ideas of NZ well above its station. Why would the Chinese gvt want to help NZ is one question, but to suggest we put pressure on China is ludicrous, NZ is, comparatively, a backward little puddle in the Pacific which no one outside of her shores takes seriously. Most Chinese I talk to here think Gao is a national hero.
pratalno said on 2009-08-28 @ 15:49 NZDT: Report abusive post
If they are in fact in HK, they'll certainly be caught at some stage. But if they are in Mainland China they will be able to live well forever here with that money and very unlikely to get caught (unless they want to leave the country) and if ever a police officer turned up, treat them to a dinner and flick them some cash and they'll turn a blind eye - that's the way it works here. Maybe they are quite smart~ :)
benrebo said on 2009-05-27 @ 09:56 NZDT: Report abusive post
Interestingly when the commerce commission rules banks have wrongly charged people (millions), and refused to give the money back when customers made them aware of it, they just get told to refund - no criminal charges. When someone takes money off them, and keeps it after the bank makes them aware of it, they are a criminal. Gao should be able to pay them back or if not face bankruptcy
rosebee said on 2009-05-27 @ 05:08 NZDT: Report abusive post
$3.8m? How long will that last. No surprise he went bust if this typifies his risk/benefit analysis
graememcg@xtra.co.nz said on 2009-05-25 @ 09:51 NZDT: Report abusive post
I hope they are caught. I was credits with 250k once in my bank account. Told the bank straight away, it was actually a transfer error on the part of another customer. Got a nice letter of thanks from both the bank and the customer for that. Personally I think living like they are and having to look over your shoulder, waiting for that heavy hand of the law, would be too much. Na, honesty is the best policy