If you found a small amount of money left in an ATM, would you keep it, or try to find the owner?

Question

Its something a friend and I were arguing about.... If someone had left, say $20 in the ATM, would you try to find the owner? Or would you just take it?

One of us thought you should find the owner because its theirs, and they might be really struggling badly and need it.

The other thought that it would be nearly impossible to find the owner, and that whoever you hand it into would steal it anyway....

(In the real situation, the money was taken and donated to a charity)

Its just a philosophical question, I guess...

Answer 1

I would most likely take the money and stand near the machine for about 10minutes to see if they came back for it, then give it to some hobo to buy beer

Answer 2

Report your find to the ATM's bank and turn in the money along with your transaction slip number or time you found it.  The Bank will likely inquire the ATM user before you of any loss.  If no loss is noted or reported the money will likely be returned to you for your disposal after thirty days.

Answer 3

If I saw who left the money there I would give it to them but if I didn't I would probably keep it if it wasn't much money.

Answer 4

Turn it into the police. If they keep it, at least it's them instead of some lowlife.

If I see money on the ground I just leave it lay. I don't even want to start the habit, even though from that point, that stage, it's still way before thievery.

Answer 5

My first thought was to take it, because it would be difficult to find the owner unless you saw the person who left it.  My second thought was about the cameras that are at each ATM and how that would be one way for the bank to be able to find out whose money it is.  My last thought was that I would probably take the money into the bank if I knew and trusted the bank employee I talked to, explain what happened and ask if the bank has a record of transactions.  Most likely, the money was left by the person who used the ATM right before you, so if they can locate your transaction record then they could find the owner of the money.  Interesting question!  I've had a similar situation, but it wasn't at a bank ATM.

Answer 6

I would keep, its just 20 bucks

and its impossible to find the owner

Answer 7

I will leave the monet there and run away, coz here in a city near Delhi a case happened, a person lost a ATM card and it was founded by some1 who lost so much of money coz of ATM fraud, he without thinking anything launched a FIR against card owner, and he had to spend a lot of money and time to get out of it, he had to go to jail almost.

MORALE : INDIAN POLICE ARE NOT GOOD PEOPLE.

Answer 8

Remember - ATMs have cameras.  If you go to that bank regularly - well???????????

I found a hundred dollars on the floor of the bank while I was in the telling queue.  I suspect; because I had previously seen him with a fist full of crisp notes like that minutes before, that it belong to a one eyed disabled guy - it did - I asked everyone in the queue in a loud voice if anyone had lost some money - he was the only one who answered (it fell on the floor as he pulled his wallet out to pay his credit card bill at the teller) I asked him how much - and it was the exact amount - so I gave it to him.

they staff all said I was one of a few who would do that - apart from the honest - cameras, cameras, cameras.

Answer 9

I have never stolen in my life.  If you take the money you are stealing.  If you give it to charity you are stealing.  ATM's are computers.  Obviously the person before you was the person that left the money.  You should have taken it to the bank and had them find the owner of the cash.  Stealing is a form of lying, and I KNOW you did not give it to a charity (unless you are calling yourself a charity).  You have done wrong, karma is a b***h.  

WHY IN THE WORLD IS THIS EVEN A QUESTION?  You know you did wrong and are now trying to validate it.  Sorry to hurt you, but now you need to try to make it right.  In the matter of theft, unless you will starve to death, there is no gray, it is black and white.

Answer 10

take it.

i know its bad but its impossible to find the owner!!!

Answer 11

Keep the money

Answer 12

I'd try to find the owner. If I can't, I'd return it in an envelope to the bank.

Answer 13

chances like that don't come by very often when it dose u should do the right thing n take the money!!!!!

Answer 14

If it happened in front of me I would catch the person and give it to them, it has happened to us and we are on a pension, and $20 to us is alot of money! :)

Answer 15

well what i would do is take it to the police because once i found $150 on the road and i gave it to the police.

Answer 16

If I can't find the owner, I'd go inside the bank and ask a teller/manager to deposit it back to the last customer before me (taking note of the time and which ATM). I'm sure they can track it with their cameras and all. But if it's after-hours and it's impossible to find the owner, I'll just take the 20.

Answer 17

I think it would be impossible to do that. I would pocket it.

Answer 18

You can return it to the bank.

The person that got shortchanged can go to the bank and they will do an investigation. If they find that you turn in the 20 dollars then it will make it much easier for the person to get their 20 dollars back faster.

You also have to take into account if this person even noticed that she was shortchanged! Most people I would assume, count their money at the ATM (I know I do). So she will probably assume she lost it or fell out of her pocket somewhere else and never go back to the ATM.

Personally, I would give the money back to the bank and advised at what time we found the bill so they could back track who was the previous customer on that ATM and refund her the money to her/his account.

Good Luck!

Answer 19

i'd be glad that i now have some money, it depends on your situation, if i had no money at all and i found it i would take it for sure, that person obviously has more than 20$ at the moment and you don't and if they just plain forgot to get their last 20$ out of the cash tray they are just plain stupid and dont deserve it, please remember humans are animals too

Answer 20

honestly, i'd keep it

Answer 21

I would count it as a Blessing!

Answer 22

Leave it hanging out the machine and ruuuun... im unlucky so id probably think it was some kind of test and just my luck id go to grab it and BAM out jumps a tv crew and im the top story on today tonight... scammer.. Hahah

Answer 23

For me, I will find the owner.

I'm scared camera. I don't want to be arrested such a little bit money.

Answer 24

Well its good you have donated it to a charity ,but I would have been contacted the bank officials ,they might find the real owner of that.Nevertheless you did a great job donating it.Remember how big the money is , if you take that anyways , it will find an outlet in some other form ;like you may get ill , robbery etc.The money you get by your hardwork remains with you else goes in some other way , similar the way it came.