A member of Nigeria’s most popular online forum, “Nairalander”, who simply identified himself as “Dryakson” has received pages of accolades from other users of the online forum for alerting his bank to the sum of eight hundred thousand Naira erroneously paid into his account and returning the sum eventually.
On 2nd November “Dryakson” put the post below up on the forum:
“It sounds silly but belive me or not it is PURELY real. I receive credit alert about a week now notifying me of 800,000 naira into my bank account from an unknown person, I was extremely surprised I even thought is 800 naira until I refresh my eyes and saw 800,000.
I quickly login my mobile money app to see my balance and the money was there.
I called the callable to if anyone sent money to me but non, though I didn’t tell then about the 800,000 I asked tactically and uptil now nobody knows about the money.
My fellow nairalanders please advise me before you people hear story that touch.
Should I go and withdraw the money?
Should I wait like months or even year?
If it happens to be the bank mistake, will they hold me responsible after I spent the money?
Please advise me on what to do.
Thanks”
Typically, he received a lot of sarcastic comments including ones from people who posed (jokingly) as the depositor of the funds and demanded a refund.
Some doubted his story, saying if it were true he wouldn’t even mention it and others gave him ideas on how to withdraw the money and simply disappear. A forum member actually advised him to withdraw the money and sue the bank (most likely for defamation) in return if they ever asked him to refund the money.
Most, however, advised him to inform the bank with a view to arranging a refund to the true depositor.
On 5th November, he put this post up, titled:
“The Owner Of N800,000 Collected His Money And Rewarded Me With N20,000”
“Good day nairalanders,
I posted how 800,000 naira was deposited into my account from an unknown person last week and the advices I got from my fellow nairalanders inspired me while some is the other way round.. Who no want money, I like it too but the consequences that will follow is the Wahala.. Lol.
I went to the bank and asked for my account break down and the consumer icare lady break the account details including the last deposit of the 800,000 naira without any suspicious from her… Happy happy…
I asked her for the phone number attached to the teller that sent 800,000 naira last week and she did I thank her and went outside the banking hall.
I called the number and a female voice pops out of the speaker she asked who I was but I ignore her question and ask her if she made any deposit of money last week, but said NO…. ALERT! ALERT!….
2 minutes later she called and said her husband who is currently in USA sent money to his brother’s account here in Nigeria before his journey last week and that the brother is also in USA with him according to her the brother (account owner) will be back to Nigeria in 1 week time, I also asked if she received any alert about the money with her number but she said she don’t know why she stop receiving alert… ……… She was alerted too.
She asked if I was a banker but I said no, I asked her to send me her husband number but she hang the call.
5 minutes later a foreign number came in I assume it to be the depositor calling with USA number.
He asked who I was and how I got his wife phone number, I narrated how the money was sent to my account and how I got his wife’s number. bla… Bla….. Bla
According to him, the teller is with him in USA, I returned to the bank and tell the lady all what had happened she was amazed at how my names as well as the account number is thesame except the difference of one number which is 7 in mine and 2 on his brothers own .
The manager arrived and ask the depositor to scan and send the copy of the teller for verification. It was concluded that the money was for him.
The manager thanks me and introduces me to the workers as well as the customers as a loyal and a good Patriotic Nigerian. According to the manager I made a good decision of reporting to the bank unlike other people who will withdraw and spent the money and later paid and charge for fraudulent.
In the other hand, the wife, her husband and the owner of the account thanks me then asked the manager to leave #20,000 while he transfer the remaining #780,000 to the other account, he promised to be calling me anytime.
What surprises me was how two guys from the banking hall curse me and my entire generation for returning a huge amount of money worth 800k. according to them, I should have withdraw the money and Run to outside country, I laughed and go my way.
I have no regrets what so ever
And if you were in my shoe, what will you do in this situation?”
Let’s hear your say
You can ask any question”
Within 48 hours of putting up the second post he had received well over 300 ‘likes’ from forum members who supported his actions and comments from hundreds of others offering support for his honesty.
There were still others among the commentators who still believed he should have walked with the money.
