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The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

bbc.com

41–50 of 243 posts

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#41

It's unbelievable how the bank didn't notice for that long. That goes to show the power of what a sysadmin at a bank can have, take money and cover his/her tracks. Unfortunately for this guy he was in no such position.

> That goes to show the power of what a sysadmin at a bank can have, take money and cover his/her tracks.

The regulation and audit requirements of the banking system mean that you can't cover your tracks forever. The accountants and auditors will catch up eventually.

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#42
post #27
post #25

I'm surprised that the article isn't answering the obvious question and that nobody here is asking it either: Did he have to pay back the 2 million?

If you borrow $2k from the bank and can't pay it back, that's your problem. If you borrow $2 million from the bank and can't pay it back, that's the bank's problem.

I've heard that phrase before but with a few extra 0s. $2m isn't really that much for a bank these days. Besides they probably were able to get a fair amount of that back in the stuff the police took.

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#43
post #24
post #20

The big story for me here is: don't rely on your lawyers. Not unless they cost enough to rely on. Form a strong idea of your own case and your own defense. Even if you're not representing yourself.

Yep this is my takeaway from the story. I will not be sad when AI automates away the majority of the legal industry. Really really terrifying that one's access to justice is dependent on their access to finances. Luckily this guy was smart enough to actually represent himself - credit to him for that!

"this guy was smart enough to actually represent himself"

This was my shock in all this. I've created a personal profile for this guy on story's beginning and ended up with a whole new profile at the end. What a character development!

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#44
post #21

Listening to it on the radio, the guy just seemed so apathetic. That it seemed almost like a Satire skit. He bought several expensive cars, spent time in Thailand, and started buying celebrity memorabilia and art? I wonder if people like this get caught because of their blatant disregard for consequences. And that there's lots of people who fall into similar mistakes/loop holes but are just very reserved and try to f…

> He bought several expensive cars, spent time in Thailand, and started buying celebrity memorabilia and art? Why not? He had a nice experience, and even avoided any long term jail sentence. What's not to like?

Morally, there are several things not to like. Of course, this is arguably no more or less morally sound than someone who legally games the financial system and buys the same lifestyle. Lots of grey areas, I suppose.

I keep wanting to compare it to tech firms that profit off chiseling away at our privacy using social and game theory, but I'm not completely convinced that the two systems are similar enough to warrant it.

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#45
post #25

I'm surprised that the article isn't answering the obvious question and that nobody here is asking it either: Did he have to pay back the 2 million?

I am actually wondering how this article is so blog like and still made it onto bbc and makes you think it has some journalistic thought given to writing style and content

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#46
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you borrow $2k from the bank and can't pay it back, that's your problem. If you borrow $2 million from the bank and can't pay it back, that's the bank's problem.

It's actually called fraud, at least in the US, and will be investigated by the Secret Service. If you experience such a windfall in your account, seek written permission from the bank before spending any of the money.

[deleted]

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#47
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you borrow $2k from the bank and can't pay it back, that's your problem. If you borrow $2 million from the bank and can't pay it back, that's the bank's problem.

It's actually called fraud, at least in the US, and will be investigated by the Secret Service. If you experience such a windfall in your account, seek written permission from the bank before spending any of the money.

He didn't find the windfall - they just gave him a large line of credit. You could claim it was fraudulent because he didn't plan on paying them back, but it's not the same as suddenly finding money in your account.

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#48
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you borrow $2k from the bank and can't pay it back, that's your problem. If you borrow $2 million from the bank and can't pay it back, that's the bank's problem.

It's actually called fraud, at least in the US, and will be investigated by the Secret Service. If you experience such a windfall in your account, seek written permission from the bank before spending any of the money.

Isn't the Secret Service supposed to protect the president?

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#49
post #25

I'm surprised that the article isn't answering the obvious question and that nobody here is asking it either: Did he have to pay back the 2 million?

Well he can't have paid the 2 million back as he has no money. I imagine he'll declare bankruptcy.

Re: The bank lent me $2m so I spent it on strippers and cars

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's actually called fraud, at least in the US, and will be investigated by the Secret Service. If you experience such a windfall in your account, seek written permission from the bank before spending any of the money.

Isn't the Secret Service supposed to protect the president?

They actually do both! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service#D...

The original mission of the Secret Service was investigating financial crimes; protecting people was only added later. They even used to be a branch of the Department of Treasury.

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