A Bank Accidentally Put $31,000 in a Teen’s Account, So the Teen Naturally Spent It

 

What would you do if First Citizens Bank randomly put $31,000 in your bank account? Would you calmly explain to a teller that there appeared to be some sort of mistake? “Excuse me, m’am. I would like to return my free money”? Or “I do not want this $31,000 that has been gifted to me from a benevolent god”?

Or would you ball out?

An 18-year-old from Athens, Georgia chose the latter after another customer attempted to deposit $31,000 into his account, only to have a teller put the money into the broke 18-year-old’s account. The two shared the same name, so really it was a classic mistake.

The 18-year-old realized what happened on March 7th and quickly went nuts. Within a 10-day period—he really agonized over that decision!—the teen withdrew $20,000 in cash and spent $5,000 on his debit card.

It took until March 18 for the bank to realize the damage it had created. A teller told the teen he had to return the money. He refused, claiming an “inheritance.” From the Athens Banner-Herald:

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.

[H/T: Gawker]