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Comment by axod | Hacker News Reader

Using 'special' numbers seems like a really bad idea. Wonder if someone did transfer $888,888.88 out, and then contacted fraud, could they convince them that it was an error and get the money refunded to their account, whilst keeping the money that was transferred? Probably a long shot, might make a fun movie script though :/

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No. Seriously, why do you think that would even be possible?

All transfers have tracking information and source/destination information. Not only would your withdraw request be denied (insufficient funds), but also they would identify that it wasn't an internal transfer.

1) Open an account with, say, $1M as the opening balance.

2) Withdraw $888,888.88

3) Armed with a bank statement showing this transaction, and everything that's online about this magic number, threaten to go to the media with your story unless the bank "refunds" your missing money. The bank doesn't want to lose all its customers so it gives in, even though it knows you're ripping it off. Kevin Spacey plays the bad guy.

Good enough (maybe, just) for a movie script at least. In reality I'm sure step 4 is "Go to prison".

Why so complicated? Just buy a failing bank and ask the treasury to give you the money. Futz about for a year or two then complain that your hands were tied by regulators and you weren't able to make a profit. Resign in tears, collect a fat severance check, and go to work for the SEC.

I was kind of wondering about something similar, while not exactly that. What if someone does do a transaction (a legitimate one) for 888888.88, does it mess up the bank's handling or total for deposits because its being handled differently?

What if that amount was fraudulently taken from a large balance account, would the bank notice or assume its part of a fraud investigation?

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