Not y2k related but indicative of banking complexity - remember these fools didn't even know they had lost their money (+90 days)...

Bank Accidentally Gives Woman $700K

The Associated Press

Saturday, Dec. 25, 1999; 3:16 a.m. EST

NEW YORK  The money came from all over  Italy, France, Turkey  intended for a United Nations environmental fund.

The $700,000 ended up in the account of a Brooklyn woman, who quit her job and spent much of the extra money before the bank noticed the error.

Now Susan Madakor, 40, a single mother who lives in public housing, is fighting to get the money back. She went to court this week to ask a judge to grant her the money instead of the United Nations.

Her lawyer says Ms. Madakor believed the money was a jackpot from a lottery she played.

The windfall showed up in her account as 13 wire transfers from countries including Italy, France, Belgium, Finland, Turkey and Uruguay between February and October 1998. Chase Manhattan Bank said the foreign governments used an account number with one incorrect digit.

Ms. Madakor left her $23,000-a-year job at a Manhattan textile company and bought a laundry business for $100,000, set up a college savings fund for her 10-year-old son, paid off $30,000 in credit card debt, furnished a new apartment and leased a van. She was negotiating to buy a liquor store when Chase discovered the mistake.

Her lawyer, Michael Siegal, said the foreign governments are out of luck because they failed to correct their mistake within 90 days of each transfer.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 25, 1999

Answers

Sounds like a Y2K problem. . .

-- (jeffD@netstreth.org), December 25, 1999.

As you will recall Chase is the same bank who lost 50 billion dollars in bonds.

I think the Chase is losing the race.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), December 25, 1999.

She thought that she had won an overseas lottery that she had never bought a ticket for.

Yeah right!

I don't see this as a Y2K problem just the typical bank screw-up. But I will admit that the explanation is suspicious. The UN account is one digit different from a regular checking account?

Sure it is! :^)

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), December 25, 1999.

I'm poor enough to laugh my a$$ right off on this one!!!

23k and she got public housing? WTF?!!!

Idiot, why didn't she move and change her identity? Duh!

A laundrymat? now there's a dream! Sucker.

23k a year, and 30k on credit cards? Dumbass!!!

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 25, 1999.

Hokie...agreed. My first thought was..."She makes $23K and lives in public housing and has a $30k credit debt??? What's wrong with THIS picture?!?!?!" Even my GF said she would have contacted the bank before spending the money. Throw her ass in jail...no...that would cost US $30K a year...shoot her instead.

-- Satanta (EventHoriz@n.com), December 25, 1999.

This is not unusal for her for make $23,000 a year and suck off the public tit. There's thousands on welfare who have jobs where they get paid under the table. The Cocoa Puff crowd knows how to work the system.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 25, 1999.

No, I must disagree. Bank screw-up. Let the BANK eat it. Hell, with the 5 B-B-BILLION that they STILL can't account for, they shouldn't even NOTICE another $700k.

Goddam bank jackasses.... Screw 'em. They screw US often enough. Maybe they'll just raise their robber-baron ATM fees another buck...

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), December 25, 1999.

bardou,

Class: Current Events 101

1st Semester Exam

Please define the following terms:

1. Cocoa Puff ____________________________________________________

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), December 25, 1999.

This IS a Y2K error. We are doomed. We are all going to die. I have been a polly fool. Now my credibility is ruined. Hopefully I am wrong about this.

-- Butt Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), December 25, 1999.

Sheesh! Why can't something like that happen to me?

BTW, Andy, I am glad to see you posting frequently again. I missed your sense of humor while you were MIA here awhile back. Take care!

-- Sharon (sking@ranger.cc.tx.us), December 25, 1999.

Hey "Mr. Cut and Paste": Keep those scissors and glue-pot going! :-)

-- A (A@AisA.com), December 25, 1999.

Made for TV movie, "Merry Christmas Mrs. Madakor"

-- PD (PaulDMaher@att.worldnet.com), December 25, 1999.

I say let the bank eat it. They had 90 days, and didn't catch it, their screw up. Maybe they'll be a little more careful next time! <:(=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), December 26, 1999.