Computer Glitch Creates Billionaires

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Grassroots Information Coordination Center (GICC) : One Thread

"...But Ko said the problem was not related to this potential bug." (Everything but)

HONG KONG (AP) - An error in a bank computer turned some Hong Kong people into instant billionaires - but only for a few hours.

A number of depositors at the Hang Seng Bank saw their accounts soar dramatically Tuesday as a software glitch added a series of nines to the end of their balances, spokeswoman Cecilia Ko said Thursday.

The bank quickly fixed the problem and none of the customers attempted to withdraw the extra money, she said.

Tuesday was Leap Day - a day that had high-tech experts on the lookout for problems that caused by computers were not programmed to recognize the date. But Ko said the problem was not related to this potential bug.

The bank did not say how many customers were affected.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000302/bs/hong_kong_instant_billionaires_1.html

-- antoine neron (metis@2000now.org), March 02, 2000


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