Ethical Dilemma - Claiming $$ that isn't mine

[DaddyTorgo]

Long story short - someone has a very similar gmail address to mine. And somebody sent them 200 pounds. Do I signup for paypal and claim it, or just ignore it?

notifying this person isn't an option - several times I emailed them to let them know that we have email addresses that are close and I get their mail sometimes, and I didn't get any type of response, so I have resolved never to forward anything on to them or whatever

[stevew]

200 pounds of what?

[DaddyTorgo]

200 british pounds

[Ironhead]

What would Tom Brady do? :p

Personally I say no.

[DaddyTorgo]

I only ask because they sent it to my email address - so I guess it wouldn't be theft, since it was sent to me (the internet equivelent of somebody sending a money order through the mail to the wrong address).

[Pumpy Tudors]

Long story short - someone has a very similar gmail address to mine. And somebody sent them 200 pounds. Do I signup for paypal and claim it, or just ignore it?

notifying this person isn't an option - several times I emailed them to let them know that we have email addresses that are close and I get their mail sometimes, and I didn't get any type of response, so I have resolved never to forward anything on to them or whatever
Notifying this person is an option, but if you decide not to do it this time, that's your choice. If you want to be ethical at all, I don't see how this is even a question in your mind. I'm not sure how you can claim the money and consider it ethical.

[DaddyTorgo]

Notifying this person is an option, but if you decide not to do it this time, that's your choice. If you want to be ethical at all, I don't see how this is even a question in your mind. I'm not sure how you can claim the money and consider it ethical.

lol - because it was sent to my email address??

notifying them isn't an option - I tried twice with VERY polite emails all like "i'd be happy to forward on anything I get if you like" and he couldn't be bothered to reply, so now it all just gets deleted: notes from his flatmates, emails from work, pictures from his mom, etc.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Maybe I'm missing it somewhere here but ... did you try notifying the person who sent the money?

[DaddyTorgo]

the senders? I guess I could.

I refuse to notify the intended recipient, because he was never courteous enough to email me back and say something along the lines of "gee...that'd be great if you could forward emails that were intended for me on to me" or anything. Which really let's face it - would take about 5 seconds

[JonInMiddleGA]

the senders? I guess I could.

Was actually my first thought, since the intended recipient can't do much except try to convince the sender they didn't get the money they tried to send.

I refuse to notify the intended recipient, because he was never courteous enough to email me back and say something along the lines of "gee...that'd be great if you could forward emails that were intended for me on to me" or anything. Which really let's face it - would take about 5 seconds

I doubt they ever saw the email, spam filters can be a very curious thing.

[Chief Rum]

notifying this person isn't an option - several times I emailed them to let them know that we have email addresses that are close and I get their mail sometimes, and I didn't get any type of response, so I have resolved never to forward anything on to them or whatever

Why did you jump to the "tool" reaction? Just forward the emails (including the money one).

BTW, claiming that money is almost certainly a crime and a ridiculously obvious one, given the electronic "paper" trail.

[Chief Rum]

lol - because it was sent to my email address??

notifying them isn't an option - I tried twice with VERY polite emails all like "i'd be happy to forward on anything I get if you like" and he couldn't be bothered to reply, so now it all just gets deleted: notes from his flatmates, emails from work, pictures from his mom, etc.

So in your second "polite" message to him, did you let him know you would be deleting emails you received for him and not forwarding them at all?

Not saying the guy isn't an insensitive jerk, but maybe he needs a push. And if he doesn't respond to that, well then, you're in your rights to delete them and not forward them.

BTW, what do you expect to hear from the guy? Oh, sorry, I'll change my email? He's not going to do that--he is as much right to his email address as you do to yours.

[Kodos]

I'd expect this from a Patriots fan. Belichunk would be proud.

[DaddyTorgo]

bah - I suppose you're all right.

[Mustang]

Ignore it now. Also contact paypal and let them know the issue. Who knows what the $$$ is for and I don't think you want to be associated with any potential issues that might arise. (Like if it was $200 for pirated software or something else illegal)

Who knows.. just sayin...

[Oilers9911]

Actually it is theft if it wasn't intended for you. If Best Buy delivers a TV to my address that was meant for my neighbour and I keep it, damn right it is theft. So if you claim that money it is theft.

[Lathum]

I just read there are alot of scams going on right now with the tax rebate so I would be skeptical.


Also I would ask yourself if that money is gonna make enough difference in your life that it is worth the risk. Knowing you I would say no.

[Suburban Rhythm]

pictures from his mom, etc.

FROM or OF?

[Pumpy Tudors]

notifying them isn't an option - I tried twice with VERY polite emails all like "i'd be happy to forward on anything I get if you like" and he couldn't be bothered to reply, so now it all just gets deleted: notes from his flatmates, emails from work, pictures from his mom, etc.

I refuse to notify the intended recipient, because he was never courteous enough to email me back and say something along the lines of "gee...that'd be great if you could forward emails that were intended for me on to me" or anything. Which really let's face it - would take about 5 seconds

The bolded phrase in the second paragraph doesn't quite mesh with the bolded phrase in the first. That's really the only point I was making.

[Crapshoot]

I cannot understand a world in which taking something that is clearly not yours is remotely a dilemma.

[Sun Tzu]

If I imagine myself in your shoes, I think I would have done it this way.

First I would be surprised...to the point of "holy crap". Then I would look up exactly what a pound translates to in American Dollars. Then I would talk it over with my better half, who would undoubtedely tell me I'm a real peice of crap if I take the money, but it's kinda funny that it happened. Then I would both email the person it was supposed to go to, as well as email the people that it came from. If the money was still sitting there unclaimed after say...6 emails (to both parties) and 6 months, then I would take it to Vegas and put $20 on red-16 for 10 consecutive spins.

[DaddyTorgo]

If I imagine myself in your shoes, I think I would have done it this way.

First I would be surprised...to the point of "holy crap". Then I would look up exactly what a pound translates to in American Dollars. Then I would talk it over with my better half, who would undoubtedely tell me I'm a real peice of crap if I take the money, but it's kinda funny that it happened. Then I would both email the person it was supposed to go to, as well as email the people that it came from. If the money was still sitting there unclaimed after say...6 emails (to both parties) and 6 months, then I would take it to Vegas and put $20 on red-16 for 10 consecutive spins.

that's what I guess i'm doing. I just decided to post on here at the point of "talking it over with my better half" for fun.

[QuikSand]

... then I would take it to Vegas and put $20 on red-16 for 10 consecutive spins.

I was going to post "Always Bet on Black"

http://deepdiscount-content.vcommerce.com/products/475/5786475/main-205.jpg

but then decided that financial advice from Wesley Snipes might not be the strongest play overall, from where we stand.

[Lathum]

nice

[DaddyTorgo]

I was going to post "Always Bet on Black"

http://deepdiscount-content.vcommerce.com/products/475/5786475/main-205.jpg

but then decided that financial advice from Wesley Snipes might not be the strongest play overall, from where we stand.

well played!

[Mac Howard]

How about an email along the lines of "I've tried to tell you before that I'm getting emails intended for you but you never respond. This morning I got an email with a 200 pound paypal payment ......................" :D

You'll probably get a reply. Who knows maybe he's getting your email sometimes and not informing you.

As far as the dilemma goes you just inform the sender ............ or not ;)

[Izulde]

FWIW, 200 pounds is approximately equivalent to $400 USD

That said, I personally wouldn't, because even if nothing happens to you directly, karma will bite you in the ass later on the road.