Bank Error Enriches Account $1.5 Million; She Spends It
An accountant in Australia is accused of going on a weeklong, $1.5-million spending spree after the money was accidentally credited to her account.
The woman, 42-year-old Teresa Prudzinski, appeared in court Thursday on a charge of stealing the money from the ANZ Bank in December, 1992.
It seems the money was deposited in her business account at ANZ after another bank misplaced the decimal point on one of her client’s checks.
The check was supposed to have been made out for 2,300 Australian dollars--about $1,500--but instead was written for 2.3 million Australian dollars--or $1.5 million.
The client didn’t notice the error and forwarded the check to Prudzinski, who deposited it, then transferred the money to other banks.
Prosecutors said Prudzinski and her husband spent most of the money in just a week, using it for mortgage payments for two properties in Melbourne’s suburbs and to pay off credit card bills.
The couple also invested more than $600,000 on the short-term money market.
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