Free money? An ATM story!

[RICHARD]

I pulled up to the drive-thru bank machine on Saturday.

There was a car in front of me and the driver had just finished doing his business.

He drove up and I noticed that the screen hadn't reset. This guy left his account open.

Just for giggles I looked to see if I could take some money out.....

YEP! This guy drove off and left an account with a balance of 77,000 dollars open!!

I closed the screen out and did my banking.

----------------------------

the thought did cross my mind, but I don't have the time to go to jail!!!

[caseysmom]

He deserved to be robbed...that rich and that dumb!

[Jessika]

He deserved to be robbed...that rich and that dumb!

NOBODY "deserves" to be robbed, rich or not! That's a terrible thing to say! Maybe he was in a hurry and was just forgetful? We ALL forget things sometimes!!

Anyway you'd better be careful even PLAYING around, even if you didn't actually withdraw any money because its illegal, period. If that had been me, I would have immediately gone inside the bank and talked with a teller to let her know. That way later on if something happens with his account (ie: he leaves it open again and someone ELSE steals) you won't get in trouble for it.

Off topic but I thought most ATMs only "close" the screen after you take back your ATM card?? Because most machines take it inside of it and only give it back once you exit out..

[caseysmom]

It was a joke.

[RICHARD]

The CITIBANK ATMs just require you to swipe your card....it does not keep them like the BofA or other banks...

You do have to 'cancel' the transaction....

Moosmom,

Is THAT why they call it the 'POKIE'?

[caseysmom]

Richard...Don't worry...bubba already has a girlfriend...its casey

[Jessika]

The CITIBANK ATMs just require you to swipe your card....it does not keep them like the BofA or other banks...

You do have to 'cancel' the transaction....

Moosmom,

Is THAT why they call it the 'POKIE'?

That seems very insecure for obvious reasons.. maybe you should bring this up with your bank???

[Cataholic]

[QUOTE=Jessika]NOBODY "deserves" to be robbed, rich or not! That's a terrible thing to say! Maybe he was in a hurry and was just forgetful? We ALL forget things sometimes!!

Anyway you'd better be careful even PLAYING around, even if you didn't actually withdraw any money because its illegal, period. If that had been me, I would have immediately gone inside the bank and talked with a teller to let her know. That way later on if something happens with his account (ie: he leaves it open again and someone ELSE steals) you won't get in trouble for it.

QUOTE]

Yowsers. I do believe it was a tongue in cheek expression...and that she didn't really mean he deserved to be robbed.

Second, maybe the laws are different in your state, but, in most states, there must be a necessary criminal intent (guilty mind) to constitute a 'crime' (you said illegal). Richard's acts wouldn't rise to that level, even though he was playing around.

Third, I wouldn't step inside any bank, unless it was absolutely necessary these days, and certainly someone else's forgetfulness doesn't make it necessary.

[finn's mom]

Wow, that's crazy. I'm just more mesmerized by the thought of having $77,000 in my bank account. ha ha, good call on your part, Richard!

[RICHARD]

Hi, Ms/Mr Teller-inside-the-building,

I pulled up behind someone that left their account open and I needed to get to MY MONEY so I touched some buttons on the screen.

I didn't take anything out of his bank account but here's my name and address, just in case his account gets messed up and you need someone to blame for his stupidity.

Peeve?

People who rely on modern technology to take care of them.

[Jessika]

You misunderstood, I know you didn't have any criminal intent I'm just saying if that were me I would have done that, not that you should or should have. You live in the US too correct? And you can know how... corrupted our legal system can be sometimes. You're right its his mistake and eventually he's not going to have someone so nice or honest behind him as you were. I guess its just a courtesy thing on my behalf to let the bank know, as well as covering my own butt, you know?? Maybe its different in CA though

I wasn't saying that's what you SHOULD have done I'm just saying, its what I would have done. Not saying what you did was wrong!!

[ramanth]

I've actually walked up to several ATM's where the previous user forgot to 'log out', so to speak. I always hit no or cancel. I've never been brazen enough to scroll around an account.

This usually happened at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. The ATM's in the food court and hotels are the kind that Richard describe. You only have to slide the card at the beginning of the transaction, it doesn't keep the card until the end.

[kuhio98]

the thought did cross my mind, but I don't have the time to go to jail!!!

Good call. The Edster wouldn't enjoy visiting you in the State Pen.

[.sarah]

Good call on your part.

[moosmom]

RICHARD,

Boy, what a temptation. But you have to keep asking yourself if becoming "Bubba's" girlfriend in the pokie would be worth it.