Ok so Im in a bit of a moral dilemna. My camera broke yesterday and today I needed to buy a new one (although I couldnt really afford it) for my travels. Apparently foreigners cant take out a certain amount of money from the banks in Argentina due to the economic collapse that the country went through. I wasnt to know this and I was running around until I came to one bank...

I was in a queue behind a woman and when it came to my turn the screen on the ATM machine presented me with a number of options, one of which to withdraw cash. I thought this was odd as normally you put your card in first of cause. As such, I took out the right amount of money that I required and low and behold the woman who had left the banks card came out of the machine. I ran out after her but I couldnt find her, so here I was with the money that I needed for the camera and her card...

As such, I gave the card to one of the bank security cards but not the cash because I dont speak spanish and wouldnt know how to explain what had happened. I bought the camera because I do need it but I feel awful in case the woman cannot retrieve her lost funds if that is the case...

I think I might go back to the bank tomorrow and try and explain. Although I should maybe thank my look and let it go. What would you do? Has this happened to anyone else?

This has only happened to me before whereby I ran after a woman to return her handbag she left on a bench. Maybe I should stop worrying and forget about it.

was there a security camera ?





you might get busted

stay

JDInteractive said:

Exact same thing happened to me, except I wasn't in Argentina!

So, sorry I can't help.

Mach said:

I hadnt thought about that and I hope not. If it is the case then of cause I would explain what had happened and willingly return the money aslong as I knew it was being returned to the woman.

U are SO gonna get busted!

Did u use the ATM with your card after her?

The moral aspect: Of course you should return it. You realized it was someone else's money, and yet you still took it. That's stealing. The fact that you had her card and thereby her identity but didn't give the money back (to the bank) immediately anyway doesn't exactly make things better.

The legal aspect: Since you've stolen her money you've already incriminated yourself, so bringing the money back won't make that undone and you might get busted when you hand it over. On the other hand, if you don't give it back then it will be even worse if they do catch you.

It's your call.

What I described in my previous post is kind of a worst case scenario though. Who knows, maybe she's rich and will never miss the money, or maybe if you give it back everybody involved will just be grateful and might even give you a reward.

What would I do? I know what wouldn't have done. I wouldn't have stolen the money in the first place (which is what you did).

Place urself in another shoes how would u feel if that happened 2 u in my opinion Honesty is the best Policy.

take the money back to the bank NOW.

Go back to the bank and try to explain. Chances are, they may have someone who can translate to help you.
I would hope you won't get into any trouble over it, but at the same time you don't want it hanging over your head either.

FLEE!!!

FLEE THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY!!!

FLEE BEFORE THEY COMMIT YOU TO DEATH BY THE FIRING SQUAD!!

I would take the money back to the bank as soon as possible. Did you see the name on the card? Maybe you can just say that you need to deposit this money into her acount. I'm sure there is a way. This woman might be in real trouble by losing that much money.

I feel really rotten about this. Id never steal from anyone. I will return the money in the morning.

JDInteractive said:

Awesome.

OK, if you left the bank I don't think you should go back! That might be considered stealing, which it was

Do you know of anyone who can translate or who might know what to do to get that money back to the woman and her account?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yes, I will talk to the receptionist at our hostel in the morning. I feel sick, really sick. I hadnt even thought about the trouble Im potentially in.

JDInteractive said:

Don't tell her it's you!!! Tell her your "friend" did this. They might be very Naziish about shit like this and sentence you to a life sentence Don't go to jail. If it turns out to be kind of impossible for you to return the money, make up for it by donating that amount of money to some cause or to someone

JDInteractive said:

just tell them if they try to do anything to you, that you'll send for your friend SuperFunkyOrgangrinderSexy to do some Kung-fu in thier asses.

MarieAntoinette said:

Oh boy would I go to bat for JD!



Good luck JD

JDInteractive said:

I'm sure you can work something out. You're only trying to do the right thing.

Don't worry.

CarrieMpls said:

I agree with Carrie.

Go tomorrow to do what you can to rectify the situation. Doing the right thing isn't always the easiest or most comfortable course of action but, in the end, you'll be glad you did it - and you'll feel much better.

Also try not to think too much about what's already happened. What's done is done and cannot be changed. Focus now on how you're going to set things right, and be proud of yourself for doing that.

OK, I think he should be worried about and considering whether or not walking away with that money knowingly constitutes a crime on his part. He needs to find that out before going to the bank.

jd don't work yourself up into a tizzy
i understand how standing there with the money in your hand you couldn't have been sure that it would get returned to the woman's account not speaking spanish.

perhaps there is a consulate or something where you can find interpretive help to explain your situation with the bank. check into that

emm said:

Yes! A consulate! You don't know the laws of that country so you better be sure about things before you go back.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

that should be his first port of call if he's gonna hand it back.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

send me a check for 2500.00$ and i'll see what i can do

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Agreed. I think you should return the money, but know what you're getting into.