# NZ couple gets unexpected windfall, flees country **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149 "2009-05-21T08:11:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/21 "2009-05-21T23:55:18Z")
In case this thread seems to have some “out of place” posts, I’ve merged two threads about the same topic. **samclem** Moderator, General Questions ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/22 "2009-05-21T23:58:04Z")
I assume a mod closed my GQ thread because of this one. Guess I’ll pose my question here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518442](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518442) How did they actually get the money and leave the country? Did they go to a teller window and ask for “their” millions? If not, I would think it would be simple for the bank to close the account, or trace the money if it were transferred. This is so bizarre. > [@friedo](#): > > > [@GreedySmurf](#): > > > > It’s not like you can walk into a branch and take out millions of dollars in cash. > > Says who? Well, that would depend on the bank, and how much cash they kept on hand. Maybe they can call in an order from Tim Geitner. But, I would think requesting a withdrawl for that amount of money, would trigger _something_; maybe a quick review of the account, maybe check to see how old that balance is, maybe make sure the people withdrawing aren’t in danger… I dunno, these are all things banks should be checking for. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/23 "2009-05-22T00:00:56Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > In case this thread seems to have some “out of place” posts, I’ve merged two threads about the same topic. Stupid moderation, if you ask me. One was a properly-placed MPSIMS thread discussing the event and the other was also properly placed as a GQ asking about the mechanics of actually getting the money out of the bank. Merging them was pointless mod wankery. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/24 "2009-05-22T00:02:17Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Am I the only one who parses “NZ” as “Nazi”? Nearly every time I see it. WTF? Well, I parse ‘ZOMG’ as ‘zombie’, so you’re not alone in the weird parsingness. If I had an ill gotten $10 million, I’d head to Brazil. Rio has a _huge_ black market, and there are enough people there that it would be hard to find one couple. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/25 "2009-05-22T00:10:12Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > How did they actually get the money and leave the country? Did they go to a teller window and ask for “their” millions? If not, I would think it would be simple for the bank to close the account, or trace the money if it were transferred. It’s entertaining to picture them huddled together on a flight to South America, clutching a $6 million cashier’s check that they think is going to change their lives. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/26 "2009-05-22T00:11:06Z")
A few years ago, when I was phenomenally broke, I went to the bank to take out something like forty of my last sixty quid, and the receipt said there was two hundred and ten GRAND in my account. For a moment there I imagined fairy godmothers and long-lost dead relatives and everything up to and including the Financially Minister of Nigeria. Then I copped on to myself and showed them the receipt and said, ‘Seriously?’ and they said ‘Oops! Mistake!’ and made it all go away again. I have to admit, though, for a split second in there I wondered what would happen if I tried to withdraw, say, just a couple of grand. Also, what _does_ ‘ZOMG’ stand for? All I can ever think of is ‘Zounds! Oh my God!’ ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/27 "2009-05-22T00:13:43Z")
A couple years ago, someone else had their $15,000 tax refund put into my bank account. :eek: I called the bank immediately and had it fixed, although I did dream of Zihuatanejo. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/28 "2009-05-22T00:22:48Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > Also, what _does_ ‘ZOMG’ stand for? All I can ever think of is ‘Zounds! Oh my God!’ It’s similar to “pwn” and “!!!111”, implying the typer had such enthusiasm that when they reached for the shift key they hit the ‘Z’ key that’s right next to it. ---
**Author:** ![MarcinCiez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@MarcinCiez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcinCiez)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/29 "2009-05-22T00:28:25Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Says who? Banks in Australia and I gather banks in New Zealand don’t tend to store large amounts of cash - at least in my experience. On a few occasions where I had to withdraw over $2000, I had to advise the branch the day before of my intentions - so they would have that kind of cash “available”\* (I learned this once when I tried to withdraw money and they told me they don’t have that much cash to do their daily business). And these branches weren’t ‘minor’ branches either. So yes… for me to want to take out $6millon, I would need to call up and they would check my account… and I’m sure suspicions would arise. One way would be is to visit as many branches as you could, and take out small amounts of cash from each one… This certainly may not arise that much suspicion. ATMs are no-no, because they usually have a daily limit for withdrawal.. \*They may have the cash in a time lock safe which they’re only able to open in the morning - I don’t profess to know how these things work. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/30 "2009-05-22T00:29:30Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Stupid moderation, if you ask me. One was a properly-placed MPSIMS thread discussing the event and the other was also properly placed as a GQ asking about the mechanics of actually getting the money out of the bank. Merging them was pointless mod wankery. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/31 "2009-05-22T00:43:35Z")
Years ago, I was making a withdrawal from my checking account from the ATM. Every receipt from the ATM gives the account balance. Casually checking my receipt, i see my checking account balance is $161,643.xx dollars. I say Holy Crap, i got over $160,000 in my checking account. Typically my checking account balance is in the $1,600 range so i think the printer malfunctioned. Thats about all I thought about it, until I get my bank statement the next month. I see a deposit of $160,000 and then a week later a withdrawal of $160,000, then two weeks later, the same thing happened. Naturally, i called up the bank to see WTF is happening. One of the local school boards was depositing their payroll into my checking account. I asked them how they could make that mistake, and they gave me the SOP…computer malfunctions. Naturally, I asked them how they can let the same mistake happen twice, in other words why didn’t they fix the problem after they discovered it the first time. Morons. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/32 "2009-05-22T01:46:43Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Stupid moderation, if you ask me. One was a properly-placed MPSIMS thread discussing the event and the other was also properly placed as a GQ asking about the mechanics of actually getting the money out of the bank. Merging them was pointless mod wankery. [Moderator Note] Nobody asked you. If you have a complaint about moderation, take it to ATMB. Your comments are inappropriate for either GQ or MPSIMS. Knock it off. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/33 "2009-05-22T01:52:16Z")
I give my opinion whether asked or not; always have. Deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/34 "2009-05-22T02:01:03Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Says who? Says Me. You cannot just walk into any local branch of your bank in NZ and say I would like to withdraw 5 million dollars in cash please. If for no other reason, the bank branch simply won’t have even close to that amount of cash in the whole place. I’m not saying it couldn’t be arranged, but it would take a few days to organise, and would invovle your bank ordering said cash from the Reserve Bank\* and having to have it delivered. - The government owend and run ‘central’ bank which actually prints the money. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/35 "2009-05-22T02:10:09Z")
> [@MarcinCiez](#): > > Banks in Australia and I gather banks in New Zealand don’t tend to store large amounts of cash - at least in my experience. On a few occasions where I had to withdraw over $2000, I had to advise the branch the day before of my intentions - so they would have that kind of cash “available”\* > > \*They may have the cash in a time lock safe which they’re only able to open in the morning - I don’t profess to know how these things work. My experience is only with Australia & NZ banks. Each branch has a ‘float’ of cash within the branch. That amount is there to cover expected cash withdrawals, accounting for expected cash deposits as well (including stocking the ATM if there is one on-site). The exact amount is arrived at by experience within the individual branch. And depending upon the size of the branch, and the day of the week a single withdrawal of $2k could have an effect on the available float. On one occasion many years ago, my branch had miscalcuated, or we had a lot of unexpected withdrawals and I rememebr having to drive to the next branch over to ‘borrow’ some cash 😃 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/36 "2009-05-22T02:29:23Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > It’s entertaining to picture them huddled together on a flight to South America, clutching a $6 million cashier’s check that they think is going to change their lives. Thats how all those Nigerian spam things get started. I bet they are landing there even as we speak, no doubt being meet by the minister of finance who will be helping them to cash that darn thing… ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/37 "2009-05-22T03:04:15Z")
> [@MarcinCiez](#): > > Banks in Australia and I gather banks in New Zealand don’t tend to store large amounts of cash - at least in my experience. Yeah, my Grandfather used to like to withdraw his pension in $100 notes, and his bank made him arrange an “order” for those notes the day before because they didn’t always have enough on hand (We’re talking, what? $600ish?). Most of the cash they keep on hand is in $50 notes and smaller denominations. If you try to withdraw a large amount of money (like, thousands), they will tell you that you have to pay for a bank cheque. If you demand it in cash, they’ll generally offer you a free bank cheque instead. My MIL did that when she paid cash for her house, on the advice of her son who used to work at the bank and knew they couldn’t cover that amount and had dealt with similar situations in the past. I imagine the NZ couple must have hit a bunch of different branches of the bank, or electronically transferred the money into other accounts with several different banks. I think my family should feel the love because I thought about the story and realized I wouldn’t accept $10 million if it came with the condition that I could never (easily) see my family and friends again, nor return to my hometown. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/38 "2009-05-22T03:42:59Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > I give my opinion whether asked or not; always have. Deal with it. [Moderator Instruction] Suit yourself. I’m instructing you to keep your criticisms of moderation out of any forum but ATMB. Do so again, and you’ll be liable for a formal warning. Then we’ll deal with it. Colibri ---
**Author:** ![CCYMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@CCYMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCYMan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/39 "2009-05-22T13:21:10Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > They were from the land of sheep, now they’re on the lam. Yeah, because they really fleeced that bank. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/40 "2009-05-22T13:24:42Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I find it strange that people these days think that running off with the money is the thing to do. And others applaud them for doing so. > > Whatever happened to the concepts of honor and integrity? If I looked at my bank account and saw an extra $10 mill in there, my first thought would be to pick up the phone and call the bank, not boogie out of the country with it. I agree, and what puzzles me is how you can do it, anyway. I’m confident my local branch A) Doesn’t have ten million dollars in cash at any time, and B) Would ask some hard questions if I asked for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149.md?page=3)