Somewhere in England, there's a very unhappy man with a PS2..

[SirFozzie]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/wa_heystation/teen-buys-ps2-on-ebay-receives-whole-heap-of-cash-instead-279631.php

A British teenager who bought a Sony PlayStation 2 on eBay for £95 ($194) got more than he bargained for when he opened the package. Instead of a shiny, happy gaming console, there was a whole heap of euros - €65,400 ($90,000) to be precise—stacked neatly inside. A spokesman for eBay said that the parcel's contents were "somewhat unusual," but that they would help the police in any way they could.

When the parcel arrived, on March 20, the boy's parents contacted the Norfolk Constabulary, who are now holding the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act. If the owner does not come forward by September 22, then the family can apply to have the cash returned to them—unless the police apply to hold onto the money for a longer period.

[BrianD]

Would you tell the police if this happened to you? I can't imaging the guy who sent it would tell anybody, though there is the chance that they might come after you...

[gstelmack]

Would you tell the police if this happened to you? I can't imaging the guy who sent it would tell anybody, though there is the chance that they might come after you...

Well, the guy who shipped it to him does know where he lives. At least by getting the police involved, coming after him no longer does any good since they've got all they need from the kid already. So it was probably the safest move all around.

[Brillig]

I like that E-bay's spokeperson only considered this "somewhat unusual." I don't think I want to know what they consider "unusual" or "very unusual."

[bbor]

I like that E-bay's spokeperson only considered this "somewhat unusual." I don't think I want to know what they consider "unusual" or "very unusual."


Fart in a jar.

[Maple Leafs]

I don't think I want to know what they consider "unusual" or "very unusual."
Reflectoporn.

[Anthony]

i would've kept the whole thing.

[MikeVic]

I'd report it.

[Surtt]

I could see this happening if it was a PS3.

[Fidatelo]

I'd probably report it, although it would be tempting to report only _some_ of it.

[molson]

Reflectoporn.

I think that would have to be considered "fairly common"

I read something in ebay's forum once about someone shipping an item using dirty dipers as packaging material. Hopefully, that falls under "very unusual".

[st.cronin]

Maybe I'm dense, but what do the police think happened? Why are the police involved?

[ISiddiqui]

Maybe I'm dense, but what do the police think happened? Why are the police involved?

Sounds like the money could have been being used for money laundering or something of the sort.

[st.cronin]

/scratches head

Yeah, that doesn't really clear things up for me.

[Lathum]

i would've kept the whole thing.

and probably ended up in a dumpster

[Izulde]

I'd skim off enough to cover my costs for Granada this fall and for a trip to Honolulu, then report the rest.

[ISiddiqui]

st. cronin:

Well, say the money was stolen and in order to transfer the cash fairly quickly and easily, they decide to set up a fake ebay sale... with the PS2 box filled with money, to someone who'd "clean the money" (and set up a few more PS2 sales to make it look like it was a legitimate business selling on eBay). Only they messed it up.

[st.cronin]

I guess I just find it hard to believe that people launder money by mailing it to somebody else.

[Lathum]

st. cronin:

Well, say the money was stolen and in order to transfer the cash fairly quickly and easily, they decide to set up a fake ebay sale... with the PS2 box filled with money, to someone who'd "clean the money" (and set up a few more PS2 sales to make it look like it was a legitimate business selling on eBay). Only they messed it up.

and now they want their money back....


what John Cusack movie?

[DanGarion]

Or maybe it's just a really nice person that wanted to give money away.