Bank accidentally deposited $31,000 into the account of a boy, 18, and almost spent the lot... but now the bank wants it back

A Georgia (United States) teenager went on an epic shopping spree after a bank error in his favour netted him more than $30,000 earlier this month.

The unidentified 18-year-old male, who has an account with the Athens branch of First Citizens Bank, unwittingly received a $31,000 deposit March 7, has already spent almost all of it and refuses to return the money to the bank.

The money ended up in his account after a bank employee processed the deposit into the wrong account, police told the Athens Banner-Herald, multiple customers have the same name

The man who made the deposit did not realize the error had occurred until March 17, at which point he called the bank to report the error.

Bank employees immediately found the missing money’s destination and discovered that about $25,000 of the deposit was already gone, police said.

The teen, from nearby Hull, had withdrawn $20,000 in cash and made $5,000 in purchases with is debit card, authorities said.

He was busted when trying to withdraw more money the next day and asked to return the missing thousands but claimed it was an inheritance and refused, cops said.

Police soon went knocking on his door, he once again said he thought it was an inheritance, this time from his grandmother, a law enforcement source told the paper.

The teenager agreed to go to the bank and work the matter out before it ended up in a court, but he has not yet showed up, said police.

The bank is threatening to prosecute if the money is not returned, officials told investigators.
No money has yet been returned and charges have not yet been filed.