Man who discovered ATM ‘loophole’ that gave him millions in cash for four months reveals why he handed himself in
Topics: Australia, Mental Health, Money
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Steve Rose PhD
Topics: Australia, Mental Health, Money
Many of us think of ourselves as good people but not all of us have this idea tested, especially when millions of dollars are involved.
Well, Australian man Dan Saunders found out, by happy coincidence, that he could cheat the system and pocket a whole lot of cash.
Way back in 2011, he realized an ATM was behaving oddly and he could ultimately take advantage of it to take out as much money as he wanted.
On a night out, Saunders checked his bank balance and noticed a machine wouldn't show his balance, he ended up transferring money and getting $200 out of his savings account.
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Speaking to Vice, he said he 'started playing around' with his card and got more money out.
While many would take advantage of this glitch until the cops came banging down at your door, Saunders realized the situation wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
It eventually started to take a toll on his mental health, and he eventually turned himself into the authorities and faced quite a serious punishment.
Speaking to Steve Rose PhD, he explained what drove him to do it in the end, saying he was experiencing wonderful things thanks to the money but 'knew [he] was losing the inner purpose'.
He said: "I knew that I was losing the inner purpose of my actual morale. And not to say I was a saint by any means but I just mean that I've had my fun and I always [...] thought that they would end it not me.
"I didn't think I'd have to actually end it but I didn't end it because I felt bad for anyone else.
"I haven't met the victim I haven't met the software guy whose fault this was and think it would have been on one person in particular."
He had previously spoken about the reflection he had to do ahead of turning himself in. Ultimately asking himself ‘Who are you? You pushed the envelope for a bit but ultimately who are you? What do you stand for?’
He also noted that the whole situation increased his anxiety which led him taking drugs to ‘calm down’
He added: "I remember thinking that if you've got to be on drugs to alter your mind that's not good, that's not a play, that's not a lane I want to go down.
"[...] It would've been very easy to just turn to valium or alcohol addiction."
After turning himself in, he was eventually convicted of fraud and theft charges and was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty.