For today's Geo Quiz we're tracking a New Zealand couple on the lam. The couple ran a gas station in the city of Rotorua. Rotorua is the answer to our quiz today.
Police say the couple applied for a 6-thousand dollar loan at the local bank. But the bank mistakenly added a few zeros --- and credited their account with 6-MILLION dollars. Bank spokesman Craig Dowling admits the bank goofed up:
“The magnitude of this as well is very disappointing for the bank. So, you know, we are working with police, we've got our own internal investigation. We want to make sure that this sort of thing doesn't happen again.â€
Meanwhile the couple has vanished. I mean what would you do? Neighbors say one day the gas station was open...the next day it was boarded up. That was three weeks ago. Rotorua police detective David Harvey is in charge of tracking them down:
“At this stage, the investigation has highlighted that the individuals involved in that business account has left New Zealand. We're currently conducting inquiries through Interpol.â€
Police aren't saying exactly how much cash the couple managed to withdraw, only that they've recovered SOME of the 6-million.
So here's a question for you: what would you do if your bank made a similar mistake... And put a few extra million into your account?
Would you give it back? Or would you take the money and run? ...And if you did, what would you do with it?
You can share your thoughts here:
What would you do if your bank accidentally put a few extra million dollars into your account?"
Oh and one other thing: The couple from Rotorua is rumored to be somewhere in China or Korea...but that's the subject of a future Geo Quiz.