“Hmmmm…keep this money that isn’t mine, or return it to the owner? What a knotty ethical puzzle!”
Devon Gluck, a senior finance major at the University of Delaware, was the surprised recipient of $1800 spit at him by a malfunctioning ATM machine. Obviously the money wasn’t his, or meant for him. Obviously it belonged to the bank, and another depositor. Obviously, the ethical thing to do was to return the money, just as you would return a wallet full of money dropped by someone walking right in front of you. Doing otherwise is theft.
Nonetheless, it took 20-year-old Devon four days and consultation with his father to come to a conclusion that any properly raised 8-year-old should have reached in about 30 seconds. After thinking about all the things he could do with the cash that wasn’t his, he finally returned it to the bank.
Whoopie.
Devon Gluck is going into the finance field, where he will be, sadly, right at home with his hair-trigger ethical instincts. Our families, our schools, our leaders and and our culture are plainly failing to install even rudimentary ethics alarms in rising generations.
You’re not getting your hands on any of my money, Devon, if I can help it. I recommend that everyone else exercise similar caution. See if your Dad can explain to you why.
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Facts: Delaware online
Graphic: Debt No Problem
Ethics Alarms 
Pretty obvious on that one.
Wild tangent: If Devon had invested the $1800 in a wild penny stock and it ballooned to $5,400 before his calculating consience gets the best of him four days later.
Return all $5,400 of the money to the bank?
Clearly, $1800 goes back to the person who originally lost it in the ATM mistake.
Who’s money is the balance ($3600)?
Person who original lost money due to ATM mistake?
The company in which the money was invested?
Gluck?
Bank?
Sure. But he’d deserve a commission, if the bank was feeling generous.
Even though it was identified it wasn’t the Bank’s money, but a mistake that took money out of a specific person’s account?
Banks are given consent to invest our money—this was just an unconventional method of doing so.
“I kind of just thought maybe I can get something good out of this,” he said. “I’ll definitely feel better, and I’m looking into going into banking and finance, so I felt like this was a good opportunity to meet someone, get a good reference and do the right thing.” -Gluck
Nice…
Most ATMs tell you to take the money dispensed below, I wonder if anyone could make a legal defense with that…
Can’t believe the comments ‘Why analyze it? He did the right thing’ ‘It’s a feel good Monday morning story, don’t complain’ etc. Disheartening to say the least.
To say the least.
I have heard this discussion before, although on a smaller scale. A radio talk show host described how he was dispensed $40 or $100 instead of the $20 he It was a bit surprising how many people called in to say he should keep the money.
I would suspect that a decent percentage of those who would return the $1800 would keep the $20 or $80 if that was what happened to them.
A high percentage, but not a “decent” percentage.
Ahhh, I sit corrected.
One other thing that I wonder about that is relevant to this sort of situation: How much does the camera on the ATM capture? Does it see the money being dispensed? If so, the person being dispensed an extra $1800 would likely be identifiable through reviewing the tapes. Actually, if it’s a videotape you could probably figure out the person by watching his expression, although that would not seem to constitute legal proof.
You don’t need the videotape. The machine should have recorded what it did and whose card was used to withdraw the money. In other words, you will get caught. They may not bother for $20, but they will for $1800. I wonder if that factored in the 4 day discussion before he finally decided to give the money back.
I don’t know that we can assume that the machine knew it kicked out too much money. If the transaction was for $200, say, and it dispensed $2000 — it seems to me that it would have recorded dispensing the $200. If the software record would show that it actually dispensed $2000, then it would not have done so in the first place — or it would have taken the full amount out of that person’s bank account.
Unless whatever caused the error was somehow picked up by the ATM, the only way the bank would know something had happened would be when the ATM was short $1800 cash at the next service call.
Quick story. Years ago, when ATMs were not as ubiquitous as they are now, I went to my ATM and couldn’t use it because the previous user had forgotten to take his cash (only $60). I took out the money, used my card to do my own business, then walked into the bank with the $60. I told them who I was, showed them my ATM card, and said that whoever had used the ATM directly before me had left the money. Would they take the $60, let the previous user know about it, credit his/her account? The bankers were absolutely furious with me! Why, it would take some of their time to reconcile this situation, and frankly, would have been happier if I had stolen the $60 and not made extra work for them. And they’re supposed to be protecting our money.
The fact that it took Devon four whole days to decide to do the right thing does not auger well for the future of of our young people. And anyone who, in future, is considering a financial investment firm, should Google Devon Gluck to make sure he’s not an employee. Thieves abound. And Devon’s long decision-making process about his choices only worry me more.
Its comes down to a couple simple questions and answers.
Was the money his? Answer: No.
Did he take it? Answer: Yes.
Whats that make him? Answer: A thief.
The only reason anyone would take four days to return the money is that they were trying to figure out if they were going to get caught and if they could keep the money.
This past Friday I checked the balance in my checking account from my phone and saw that I has $1,200.00 nore in the account then there should have been. I called my bank right then and there. Thats what he should have done and thats what anyone would do who wasnt contemplating keeping the money.
Bingo!