Sorry I apologize. Not able to embed this video you will just have to click the link below..

OK: here's the story: Stephen McDow is charged with one felony count of grand theft by misappropriation of lost property — with an enhancement for taking property worth over $65,000 — after finding the money in his own checking account.

He received the money on Sept. 10, 2010 and on Sept. 11, 2010 he started spending the money on various bills that he had,†said Lockhart.

Lockhart said the mix-up came after an unnamed Los Angeles woman inadvertently provided the IRS with a Citibank account number that had been closed in 2004 and was subsequently reassigned to McDow.

After attempts were made by the woman’s attorneys to recover the funds, McDow told them he had already spent up to $60,000 of it on car and student loans and to keep his home out of foreclosure, Lockhart said.

McDow faces four years in prison if convicted and is being held on $110,000 bail.

Now: Here's the question: WTH?(What The Hell?) would you do if a tempting $110,000 mysteriously showed up in your bank account? & Of course be honest...LOL

it happened to me once, my employer paid my salary twice and when they saw the mistake they threatened me with a law suite, but I kept the money

Well, generally, people should know what is expected on their bank accounts. So on one hand, Mr. McDow is wrong.

On the other hand, the "donor" of these fund is not really wrong, too, it's the bank as I see.

So, in my opinion, Mr. McDow should pay back the money he got in a way that was not correct, but facing four years in my opinion is not ok. If he has the money (which I doubt because he already spent it) to get a good lawyer, he would be getting out as the winner of this case. Problem is that the LA woman then would be the loser as a bank never would admit having done anything wrong - and also have the means to pay for attorneys and legal suits a "normal" person cannot afford. In my opinion there should be an arrangement that Mr. McDow is paying back the money (well, a big portion by selling his new car) in several installments including interests as he knew that the money was not his.

And now to your question how I would react in such a case:

Most probably, I would react like Mr. McDow because I know that it is easy to spend money and difficult to recover it. So at trhe end, even if I have to pay back, I would have won at least a bit in interests. And then, if the bank makes a mistake, it is not my problem, anyhow (at least, in Europe), so I will have to pay back what I got wrongly but never would face charges (at least I hope!).

The law, certainly in the UK, is quite clear on this. If you spend money that has mistakenly gone into your account, knowing that you are not entitled to those funds, then you are committing theft. The guy was an arse and deserves what's coming to him

untill it happens to you

I don't think I'd notice an extra 110k ;-)

But let's say it was an interesting amount like 1.1million.

Hmm These days I'd give it back. I don't need the money, I'm not in debt and I know someone would come looking for it pretty soon. When I was a penniless student, I bet I'd have kept it.

But 11 million today? I'd be gone. That's life changing money and there's enough of it to go off the radar for a long time. At least long enough for the statute of limitations to pass.

The law, certainly in the UK, is quite clear on this. If you spend money that has mistakenly gone into your account, knowing that you are not entitled to those funds, then you are committing theft. The guy was an arse and deserves what's coming to him

So that makes a difference in Central European Law then. For us, it is for sure not theft. Because - how should you know that you are not entitled to this money? Your step-uncle might have transferred it to you. Of course, if it turns out not to be ok, you will have to pay back, but no extra charges (except for bank charges - which is bloody f*cking incomprehensive enough). If the guy has spent it on things that he cannot sell anymore, pity on him, because he has to pay back - maybe in monthly installments including interests, that's for sure!

Thing is - how to be sure that you know that you are not entitled to this money. If this is clear (which in most cases is difficult to prove), I am with you, otherwise like I said.

In Belgium, you do not have to pay it back

In Belgium, you do not have to pay it back

Even that?

How can I apply to the Belgian Citicenship?

5555, it happened only once, about 20 years ago, and only for eqv 30.000 thb I don't even like to be a Belgian, like most Belgians, as Belgium is an historic mistake

5555, it happened only once, about 20 years ago, and only for eqv 30.000 thb I don't even like to be a Belgian, like most Belgians, as Belgium is an historic mistake

LOL Geee very funny..Is it true that Belgians have limited capital gain taxes meaning that you only pay it in certain circumstances?

average income tax in Belgium is 35%, last time I worked I paid 50%

average income tax in Belgium is 35%, last time I worked I paid 50%

I. C. wow... they don't get you on your investments but on your income...phew!!!

....... as Belgium is an historic mistake

But working since 180 years now. Well, maybe not well, but....

very funny!!