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Teen Buys PS2 on eBaY, Gets $90,000 Instead

gizmodo.com — 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

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  • b4nftr, on 10/11/2007, -92/+10PS2 - $194, Shipping $89,806. No returns, no questions asked.
    • appletalk, on 10/11/2007, -2/+52PS2 - 194. Shipping -90.000
    • Richggs, on 10/11/2007, -4/+141EXCELLENT SELLER A++++++++
    • Splint69, on 10/11/2007, -4/+67BAD EBAYER ITEM NOT AS DESCRIBED. WON'T ACCEPT REFUNDS I WAS MISLEAD BY THE TITLE DESCRIPTION AND I RECIEVED A HUGE WAD OF CASH INSTEAD. I DIDN'T WANT WHAT I PURCHASED SO I GAVE IT TO THE POLICE. WILL NEVER BUY FROM AGAIN. F-
      • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -2/+23F--- Feedback too long! Obviously not an eBayer!
        • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2The angry people always leave long diatribes.
      • retral, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8Would you keep it? I mean, if it is some baaaaad person.. which I would assume it is.. and they had two packages, your address, and their drug lord got the ps2.. Would you want some guy hustling you for $90k?
    • NgrHader, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11Why would he report it?
      • radu79, on 10/11/2007, -11/+5Maybe because he is honest?
        I would do the same.
      • BrainInAJar, on 10/11/2007, -7/+4because it's the law?
      • griz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11No because his parents made him. RTFA!!
        "the boy's parents contacted the Norfolk Constabulary, "
      • spudnic, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6What if the sender realised the mistake and came to collect it in person...
        Never know who it could be, and they have your address. Not worth taking the risk
        • aoneal417, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4I would take the risk
          • jmpeagle, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3may be a drug dealer who will kill you and your whole family to get his money back
          • ChewMyFootOff, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You got $90k, go take a long vacation
    • BESTenemy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16One thing is certain, the money's never going to be claimed by the original owner, cause he's probably taking diving lessons wearing cement shoes, courtesy of the drug dealer that got a PS2 instead of money.
      • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3"I got the stuff right here. Now give me the money. WTF? A PS2? ***** narc!" *gunshot*
      • KMye, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The money won't be claimed by the owner while the police have it. However, if the boy and his family try to claim it after the holding period, and receive it, I would expect them to "contacted" eventually.
    • Sam0n, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The console was still in it.
      It was the two games that were supposed to come that were missing.
      Burried as innacurate

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/6903433.stm
  • gadgetuk, on 10/11/2007, -9/+324May I be the first to say....

    It's my money! Can I have it back please?
    • sirber, on 10/11/2007, -21/+7Pics or it didn't happen.
      Why am I the only one asking proof? This internet is wrong!!!
    • donwilson2, on 10/11/2007, -6/+85wtf, why did he tell anyone.
      • Frecklefoot, on 10/11/2007, -1/+69He told the police so he could get their protection when the drugs dealers come around demanding their money. I guess the local kingpin got a shiny PS2 instead of his cut?
        • senatorpjt, on 10/11/2007, -17/+8Still stupid. He should have held on to the money for a while to see if they asked for it back. If they show up, tell them you figured it might be drug money, so you didnt want to tell the police and ***** up their operation. Then, you could get a contact in the underworld, and maybe even a reward for keeping your fool mouth shut.
          • DarKnight90, on 10/11/2007, -1/+35Or shot.
          • bencefeher, on 10/11/2007, -0/+24You watch way to many movies.
          • mike81890, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7If only life worked like a video game.
            Then after you got the contact you could rise the ranks of the seedy England Underworld and become a drug kingpin... or just have the ***** kicked out of you
          • tim04, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2ya dude...I doubt they'd even ask questions. All you would hear is your door crashing down a barrage of bullets coming your way
          • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2You're a teenager who wanted a PS2 on eBay. What you got was $90,000 in stolen drug money. A few days pass and some guys show up on your doorstep, looking for the money. You never thought you'd be caught and you've got to think quickly. You cunningly tell them you wanted to keep the money away from police. Taking the street name Senator, you join their crew as a lowly pot dealer. Can you rise through the ranks of the English Underworld and become the drug kingpin? Rated M by the ESRB for drug content, suggestive situations, language, violence, and the fact we don't like you.

            Reviews:
            "a cross between GTA and Redsteel" - Kotaku

            " a brilliant game but a terrible backstory" - Gamespot

            "Not News: Boy orders PS2. News: Boy gets $90K instead. Fark: They make a video game about it" - Fark

            "Best murder simulator I've ever seen" - Jack Thompson
          • senatorpjt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2You guys watch too many movies, too. Business is business. I was joking about the "contact in the underworld" thing, but they're not just going to walk in the door, guns blazing. If I were the criminal, I'd send the kid a message with a dropoff point. Then again, these guys can't be that smart, having lost the money in the first place.
        • bencefeher, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2rrr comment system sorry
        • coviecarbine, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Police protection, what a joke. Go get yourself a .38 revolver and protect yourself.
      • DJMajickman, on 10/11/2007, -4/+17He didn't his parents did. I blame them for screwing up his chances in life :P
      • Domza, on 10/11/2007, -0/+23Now he can afford to buy a PS3
    • aDJsavedmylife, on 10/11/2007, -23/+4May I be the first to say....

      Why the HELL did they tell the police?
      • donwilson2, on 10/11/2007, -1/+42You weren't the first, sorry :)
      • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Let me be the fifth to say...

        Why the hell did he tell the police?
      • ericrous, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Probably because he doesn't want to get shot when some Russian mobster comes looking for his money.
    • UnstableMind, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18I'm thinking, why doesn't he just e-mail the guy back that he bought it from and see what's up? I mean, I would've done that before giving it to the police. Then again, I probably would have kept it and moved.
      • ronaldinho, on 10/11/2007, -4/+4The family did the right thing. Oh yes, doing what is right takes sacrifice too.
        • Urusai, on 10/11/2007, -8/+16What's right is to take your legally obtained money and spend it. NEVER INVITE THE STATE INTO YOUR LIFE.
          • emjaymj, on 10/11/2007, -4/+17First of all, that's not legally obtained. You think if the bank puts $100,000 into your account instead of the $1,000 you deposited, or a clerk at the store gives you too much change, it's your legal right to keep it just because it's an accident? Nope, you can still be charged with theft if they can prove you were aware of the error.

            Even if it was a legal right - which it isn't - the parent's made the right move. Most people don't keep 90,000 in cash stuffed in a box - there's a very good chance the guy is a drug dealer or into organized crime. You think he would give a ***** about your rights? No, he would go to great lengths to get that kind of cash back.

            It's easy to talk big when you're just an observer of the situation. In some situations it's better to keep the money, but in this case the parents were concerned about the family's safety and so they did the right thing. If you had a family and did otherwise, you'd deserve to be shot..
      • Wrathernaut, on 10/11/2007, -4/+9Um, $90,000 sure ain't worth moving over. $90,000,000 and we're talking.
      • zweben, on 10/11/2007, -0/+38I would've emailed him "Thanks for the PS2, it works great" and left him VERY positive feedback.
        • Rhino2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+17A+++ WOULD BUY AGAIN. VERY FAST SHIPPING.
    • swazo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+41i personally would have reported about 10,000 found... and the other 80,000 is MIA
    • vonfook, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Who has that kind of cash lying around, and why was he shipping it? (Clearly put the wrong address label on, that sucks).
      • ericrous, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It was probably part of some ID fraud ring. Some guy in Europe who was working as a transfer point for the goods was sending his partnet his share of the loot and mixed up the packages.
    • julianvs, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4He probably is a drug dealer. He had a stolen PS2 he was trying to get rid of and at the same time was trying to order a new batch of crack! Now he is probably ditching every piece of evidence and moving to a new house.
    • S1ngular1ty1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3This just in:

      11,000 people have come forward in the case claiming the missing 90,000 euros. Police are baffled.
  • moosebaloney, on 10/11/2007, -6/+190I should buy more crap from eBay.
  • Unclekoolaid, on 10/11/2007, -3/+273Marcellus Wallace is not happy right now
    • Coven, on 10/11/2007, -2/+71What does Marcellus Wallace look like!?
    • tonaros, on 11/14/2007, -12/+2I thought it was gold bars in the briefcase..?
    • max420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2They never really mention what is in the case, which leads the watcher to make up his own mind. I think the light eminating from the case was for dramatic effect, and doesn't necesarilly mean that it was gold bars. IF it was gold bars, the case would have been heavier.
      • Br0wn, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1One theory is:
        "Marcellus Wallace sold his soul to the devil, who extracted it through a small exit wound on the back of his neck. Hence the band-aid. This is also why Vincent Vega and Jules are sent to retrieve it, why the combination reads 666 and also why everyone who looks in the briefcase is dazzled. And that's why God saved Vince and Jules' asses."
  • 10goto10, on 10/11/2007, -21/+107That'll buy you a lot of Wiis...
    • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -11/+27bleh, one is more than enough.
      • joshuagor44, on 10/11/2007, -11/+1Agreed.
        • speaker219, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8Was it necessary to write a comment stating your agreement? Just digg it up..
        • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10"Digg it up"? What is that...some sort of voting system? :P
    • GMorgan, on 10/11/2007, -3/+158Or it's a sizeable down payment for a PS3.
    • thebru, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Someone has to mention iPhone in this thread somewhere....
  • airwalkery2k, on 10/11/2007, -5/+367I bet the seller was just hoping for some really good feedback on his eBay account.
    • themoose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Is it me, or does the description sound like the kid was dissapointed when he didn't get his PS2?
      • headband, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4well all the money is in police custody and he is likleey to never see it again and he still has no ps2
  • betawarrior, on 10/11/2007, -25/+5but ps2 only costs 119 dollars at my local gamestop....
    • thehuntedpossum, on 10/11/2007, -26/+4that's because it's in Euros, where the currency conversion is a lot higher. i.e. sony can make the PS2 still cost a little over there (98 euros) and it'll seem expensive to us ($194). a hard argument against our overspending/undertaxing.
      • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -5/+21I'm not even going to go into why your comment is grossly inaccurate, I'll just give it a thumbs down and add you to my list of Americans who really don't know what they are talking about.
      • tnoy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11There are playstation 2s going on ebay in the UK for half of what he paid. Though, thats just the console, we dont know the details of the auction, it couldve been for the console and a large assortment of games.
        • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1console and two games according to the original BBC article. He received the system and the wad of cash but the two games were missing...

          I just bought a used PS2 (the small one) for $75 at my local Game Stop in Wisconsin...
    • Koldkompress, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6But this was in the UK. In the UK, electronics are more expensive.
      • 4ndr3wk, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8and about 6 months behind american electronics
      • GMorgan, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8That's because they always use a 1:1 ratio between pounds and dollars. We should organise a campaign to return masses of government bonds and crash the currency. Then we can get electronics at half price rather than twice the price.
        • jj9000, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4You should organize, not organise, you limey bastard.
          • Myonosken, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Well the language is ENGLISH so...
    • bdj07, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4It sounds like a sweet scam to transfer funds between criminals. "OK Billy, here's the plan... Buy this grossly over-priced piece of junk off ebay and I'll send the money with it. No one else will bid on it because it's so expensive! They'll be none-the-wiser and we can get the money there in no time, no questions asked!" Foiled by silly kid that doesn't know what a ps2 is worth!
    • lksjfhdc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0this is also eBay
  • geekfrom99, on 10/11/2007, -4/+520A+++++++
    • tonaros, on 11/14/2007, -3/+147GREAT EBAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WILL BUY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -1/+225[neg] Not what I ordered, opened box to find €65,400 instead of a PS2 as listed BUYER BEWARE!!!
    • airwalkery2k, on 10/11/2007, -5/+31Come on. That deserves at least 2 more pluses.
  • lordtyros, on 10/11/2007, -2/+351I'm hoping the kid actually found $100,000 and kept $10K for himself.
    • appletalk, on 10/11/2007, -4/+13I was hoping the kid found at least ten times as much.
    • heliox, on 10/11/2007, -13/+4He is probably not as dishonest as you.
      • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8I'm sure those $90,000 were going to a good cause.
        • senatorpjt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Keeping the illegal drugs flowing is a better cause than getting pocketed by the cops, which is probably where it'll end up.
        • s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah, gotta keep the war on drugs profitable.
        • CrazyChair, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Yeah I'd prefer the drug dealers keep it, rather then the police.
    • vanza001, on 10/11/2007, -12/+4well seeing as he found Euro's he probably found 75k euros and kept 10k euros which is even MORE than 10k US!
  • WCASpooner, on 10/11/2007, -8/+160maybe it's a marketing ploy by sony
    • OMGWTFROFLMAOx2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+44or a big ***** up by drug traffickers
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -4/+10A marketing ploy using second hand PS2s!? Honestly...if that made sense in your mind for even split second, you should start shopping around eBay for a new brain...
      • familynight, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5i'm pretty sure that was a joke. oh, and ebay doesn't allow the listing of human body parts for auction. also, that wouldn't work. the brain swap, i mean.
  • netferret, on 10/11/2007, -32/+170what a moron telling the police, I would have just kept it and kept quiet.
    • chris9902, on 10/11/2007, -5/+56and if it turns out to be drug money or something he's *****.
      • DooM, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8Friggin' move - you have $90k for relocation costs for crying out loud.
        • shark615, on 10/11/2007, -1/+23What will that buy you? A shed in someones backyard?
      • senatorpjt, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13How is he *****? Do you think the drug dealers are going to call the cops and report that they accidentally sent $90,000 of drug money to some kid? They shipped him the box, they know where he lives, they have the kind of operation where there's $90K cash laying around. They'll show up at his house. In fact, they'll probably show up at his house, whether he told the police or not.

        Personally, if I'm having a drug dealer missing $90K showing up at my house, I'd MUCH rather tell them "I ordered a PS2 but the box never arrived" and hand them the box, than "I gave it to the police."
        • jebus123, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Now that it is well known that he doesn't have the money, they won't show up at his house. See how that works out? He gets to stay alive. And 90k$ to disappear and never be seen again is not a lot.
          • knetworx, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2While $90K is not a lot to disappear, I don't see why they wouldn't still show up at his house just for giving their money away, even though he doesn't still have it. If someone gave away $90K of my money, I'd be pretty damn pissed, and if they got it because I ***** up my drug trafficking, I'd probably go after them...right after I kicked my own ass for shipping the money to the wrong place.
          • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I think they'd only go after them if they thought they could get the money. Going after him for revenge would be stupid and extremely risky. The drug laws and drug law enforcement will be strengthened when drug dealers kill/kidnap a poor kid who got mixed up in a drug deal and did the "right thing". You think they want that kind of publicity? This is the UK, not Mexico.
        • Asandia, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Are you serious? They now know that the family could get the money back if no one claims it. If it were me that family would be in for a VERY painful little while while I waited WITH them to get my money back. But hey, thats just me
        • max420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I would just quietly watch the family for the 30 days, and then when I see them go back to the police station, I would home invade them, take the money and get the hell outta there. I would do all of this with a mask, so I wouldn't need to kill the family...
          • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Well, that's better than killing them I guess.
        • pault107, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1And you don't think that the police have thought about that? They'll just wander back home with the money?
    • lordtyros, on 10/11/2007, -3/+124Yeah, because people who have $90K in cash are usually law-abiding citizens who wouldn't hurt you. Also, they have your address.
      • NinjaBoy, on 10/11/2007, -4/+9You could buy alot of guns for 90K
        • jebus123, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Maybe not in the UK.
        • max420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3You can buy a lot of guns, anywhere in the world for 90k, granted the variety and type of guns might be limited in the UK.
          • donnyburnside, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Guns can be bought in the UK from £40 (off the streets) so don't give me that *****.
          • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You can buy them in the UK, but if the police catch you with them. Also, if drug dealers attack you and you defend yourself with an illegal gun, what would happen to you?
    • heliox, on 10/11/2007, -20/+7That's because you are dishonest and lack honor.
    • homanh, on 10/11/2007, -4/+14And also the fact that it was the guy's parents who reported it to the police.

      Its not your day today is it netferret?
    • mickcn, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3Buy bigger guns, than they got, with their own money. Thier is no reason to be honest/honorable, with bad people money. Do something good with it. Like kill bad people.
      • Inverno, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8He could put a down payment on the batmobile!
      • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6Are you joking? Even if you gave me a couple of fully automatic assault rifles and the drug dealer guy a pistol, $90,000 still isn't worth getting into a gun fight over...even if you have the fire power advantage...
        • s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4It's more fun than having a bunch of cops in your front yard though.
        • EmperorAwesome, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4No, that is totally worth getting into a gunfight over, particularly the extremely one-sided one in your scenario.
      • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5KIll bad people with bad people money? Do you watch Fox news?
    • mattyp17, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4Ha I completely agree with you! And tbh, with that much money you can afford to move house.
    • liv3fr33ordi3, on 10/11/2007, -3/+12The kid's parents did the right thing by reporting it to the police . Even keeping just a small amount is a bad idea. If it turns out to be drug money or from a bank robbery, they would be in some serious trouble.
      • senatorpjt, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12Of course. No problems could EVER arise from turning over $90,000 of a criminal's cash to the cops, when he knows where you live. I'm sure they'll be totally understanding.
        • emjaymj, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4You watch too many movies. If the family kept the money and didn't report it, the criminal would certainly pay the family to get his money back. Business is business.

          Instead, the family reported the money as lost, not necessarily to screw anybody over, and they no longer have the money. What reason does the drug dealer or whoever have to go visit the family? Revenge? Something to prove? Unlikely, especially when there's a good chance that cops are watching the house. Besides, he's more than likely going to be working doubly hard to get back the money that he lost.
          • emjaymj, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Sorry I meant to type "pay the family a visit"
          • ICSU, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3emjaymj, 90k is not enough to watch anybody's house

            The family will receive the money on 22 September as stated and then will they pay a visit. Or the police will find out who sent them and...
          • senatorpjt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Or, more likely, they will pay a visit before 22 September, and say "You get the money back and hand it over, or else."
    • deltaandroid, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15Yeah, you wouldnt be too happy about keeping it when you found yourself with cement shoes at the bottom of a lake. "Knock Knock Knock" , "whos there?.....", "Mafia" lol
    • masterthiefster, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Aside from getting in trouble with the owners, some people have morals. It was obviously either a strange gesture of kindness or else a serious mistake. Either way, the police will now sort it out. If he's lucky he'll get the cash back in the end.
      • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3A strange gesture of kindness? You have too much faith in humanity. Don't worry though; Digg will fix that. :)
  • chingy1788, on 10/11/2007, -9/+117At first I was thinking Why didnt the kid/family keep it all quiet
    then I read the comments
    yes If the kid kept it quiet some one would come knocking on his door, maybe killing him and his family...
    it is $90k
    handing it in to the police was a smart move, waiting for no one to claim it then claiming it back them selves, probably better then getting a call from some Dr.Evil

    Shaving some money from the top may be dangerous too

    hmmm now I'm thinking that if the family gets it back, maybe the criminals would then come knocking on the door... hmmm
    • fober, on 10/11/2007, -8/+38Stop watching HBO.
      • chingy1788, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18whats HBO?
        All I've been watching recently is scrubs, house, heroes, mythbusters and old topgear episodes...
        Australian TV is behind your US TV quite a bit...
        • fober, on 10/11/2007, -4/+4I just meant to say you've got too much Hollywood mob drama on your mind.
        • Renton, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15That, my friend, is the beauty of torrents.
      • EdLesMann, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1That's a fine selection of shows to be watching. Throw in Stargate and Dirty Jobs and that is practically all I watch.

        Out of curiosity, how far behind the US are the shows? I was under the impression that many of these shows were now current or at most a season behind.
      • s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I'm going to go ahead and say it's a better idea to use the $90,000 to buy a hitman. The police are going to try to take down the whole operation legally, or just ignore it and hope they can snag some more money.
      • emjaymj, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Stop watching HBO? In this case, he's not too far off from the truth. You think a drug-dealer ends up with $90,000 in a box because he's too afraid to knock on doors for his money? No, but what IS a bit too Hollywood is that he would go psycho and be out for revenge on the family just because they turned in the money to the cops.
        • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Exactly. That would be asinine.
        • DarthMalcontent, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I don't think the scenario chingy was concerned about was some kind of revenge thing. I think it was more like: a few months from now, the family gets the money back, and is in exactly the same position they're in now. They have some criminal's money, and he has their address, and...
    • NativeAlien, on 10/11/2007, -7/+0Dugg for Dr. Evil
    • DooM, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Yeah, because the drug dealers won't be at ALL pissed off at you or try to get it back if the Police gives it to him. : Good thing drug dealers play by weird rules like that.
    • coolsteve, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4The best thing to do is probably wait the 30 days or so and petition to take the money back, BUT tell the press that the police kept it.
    • virtualball, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Just announce on the news that you donated it ;)
    • Rhino2, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6Drug Dealer on the phone: oh you don't say? ... Gave it all to the police? .... Even filled out a police report and gave them all my details? ... quite a lawful and good hearted lad aren't you? Very well... ... uh huh, uh huh... yep... yea sure, I'll send out the PS2 tomorrow.... alrightly then. Cherr-O pip pip.
      • mike81890, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2arent you the little racist. just cause the kid was British you assume the alleged drug-dealer speaks with an antiquated accent.
  • Natetendo83, on 10/11/2007, -17/+6First mistake: telling anybody about the free money
  • bleep1912, on 10/11/2007, -26/+7Now the little bastard can get a ps3 instead,.. and a HDTV,
    Hope bullet tooth tony, and his friend desert eagle finds the little bastard.
    • petemcfraser, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Come up with that on your own did you? You're not the only one who reads the comments on the blog, just the only one who posts them as his own.
    • kcpwnsgman, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1and a car with a ps3 and an HDTV in it
    • Tourniquet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2+1 for the snatch reference :-)
  • Ksg89, on 10/11/2007, -20/+4He didn't get $90,000, it was £44,000
    • chris9902, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8it was €65,400 actually.
    • bumblefoot, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2erm

      £44,000 when changed into dollars works out to near as makes no difference $90,000
  • novask, on 10/11/2007, -17/+6Wow these stories lose accuracy fast. Here's another http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/6903433.stm. Except here its £44,000 ($65,400).
    • Koldkompress, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12Live rates at 2007.07.18 16:08:33 UTC
      44,000.00 GBP
      =
      90,355.20 USD
      United States Dollars
      1 USD = 0.486967 GBP

      Taken from xe.com
    • Baku, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7Cops have skimmed off the top to buy donuts and coffee
    • EricAnderton, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11mistake, please bury.
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9The articles are still accurate, but specified in different currencies.
      €65,400 = approx. £44,000 = approx. $90,000
    • yohnstoppable, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5I blame the discrepancies on inflation caused by "peak oil" :D

      It really IS happening fast
  • nucleocide, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4We all know the package actually contained €70,000...
  • mirzar, on 10/11/2007, -11/+2why didnt he just keep the money??
    • heliox, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Perhaps he is honest? It looks like you wouldn't understand that.
    • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2because the dude can come looking for him and kill him? You do know that the seller probably still has his address in his paypal account, right?
    • Snakedal337, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8You ever done business with a mafia? Their negotiators are second only to the RIAAs
      • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8I thought that the mafia and RIAA used the same people?
        • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Possibly. The RIAA seems to stick to barely legal extortion, which is less risky, but also less efficient than mafia-style extortion.
  • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -32/+6Buried as inaccurate. He got €65,400 not "$90,000". Why the ***** does everything have to be converted into dollars here? It loses all perspective and accuracy when you do that.
    • Tobark, on 10/11/2007, -3/+18Becuase the website is based in the United States...thats why.
    • swoopdog, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6uh...its the same thing? :shurgs:
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6WTF are you talking about? The article says that he got €65,400. It only includes includes the conversion amount in dollars inside or parenthesis for the benefit of those that don't know what a Euro is worth.
    • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -6/+4I don't see why people don't know what a Euro is worth - it's one of the world's major currencies and is used by hundreds of millions of people daily. I don't live in the USA but I know the value of a US dollar, just like I don't live in a country which uses the Euro but I know the value of that too.

      My point was that in a week or two weeks or however long, the figure "$90,000" will be inaccurate - it will no longer be the true value of what was found in the package.
    • tdhurst, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6How does converting the sum make it in accurate? Had this been a Mexican based site, I'm sure we would have converted it into pesos.

      Damn you European snobs!
  • novask, on 10/11/2007, -14/+2http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/6903433.stm

    These stories sure lose accuracy quickly. According to the BBC it was £44,000 which happens to be $65,400.
    • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7No, it was €65,400. Any other figure given is just a straight (inaccurate) conversion. The money in the box was in Euro notes which are not legal tender in the United Kingdom.
      • Baku, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5I think you'll find that Euros are legal tender in the UK.
      • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Love it when people spew on about a bunch of crap like they know everything, but then are wrong...
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5I guess since you posted the same stupid crap twice I should reply twice...

      The articles are still accurate, but specified in different currencies.
      €65,400 = approx. £44,000 = approx. $90,000
    • jspegele, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Getting dugg down once for you lack of math skills wasn't enough?
  • damndj, on 10/11/2007, -1/+91***** out bid me!

    I wouldn't have told a soul.
    • Caluen, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3Then this kid may have just saved your life! both a hero and honest!
  • Error601, on 10/11/2007, -1/+26I sure wouldn't want that public knowledge. He accidentally got in the middle of some organized crime.
  • PhoneGuy, on 10/11/2007, -4/+168So, here is what has happened...

    Pedro, your local Colombian drug dealer was selling his old PS2 on eBay, and at the same time, he was was getting ready to ship a box full of cash to Pablo Escobar to pay for the pounds of 'coke' he was fronted and sold over the last three weeks.

    Pablo got this PS2 in the mail and thinks that Pedro was trying to rip him off and be funny, so he has Pedro whacked. Money is lost forever.

    ... That is, until Pablo Escobar sees this article on Digg and shows up to get his money.

    Kid, you are so dead it is not even funny.
    • mc7winkie, on 10/11/2007, -0/+21Pablo Escobar is alive?
    • wiggles, on 10/11/2007, -1/+28What a great film plot! I got dibs on the movie rights.
      • Shuk, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You'll have to buy the script from Vinnie Chase first.
    • Jeffler, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11The kid got the PS2 too.
    • yohnstoppable, on 10/11/2007, -2/+19... That is, until Pablo Escobar sees this article on Digg and shows up to get his money.

      Kid, you are so dead it is not even funny.

      Am I the only one who noticed that rhymes?
      • NinjaBoy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13Just the only one who cared.
      • RussellDovey, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I'm afraid that against poetry, these are crimes.
    • ethon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Is that the plot for Medellin staring Vince Chase? I hear the director, Walsh, is ***** crazy.
    • EmperorAwesome, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1Everyone knows only wiggers own PS2's. Dawg. I mean, you've got mainstream advantage, MTV advertising, Madden dawg, Sony totally loves wiggers.
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2You had to name the local drug dealer Pedro? Wouldn't Jose work and be less confusing?
      • bimtott, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Vote for Pedro, and all your dreams will come true...
  • rowlodge, on 10/11/2007, -11/+1euros are pennies ...99cents....it's a scam!
    • RedRummy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3what?
    • sinequan0n, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8You're an idiot...1euro is worth more then US Dollar. If you were to trade 1$ you'd get .72 of a Euro.
  • ProvoloneNinja, on 10/11/2007, -12/+0WTS lvl 70 Gnome rogue
    Epic gear and weapons.

    $500,000 Or best offer!!!
  • zyl0x, on 10/11/2007, -1/+35The lesson here is don't launder money through eBay.
  • kopasa, on 10/11/2007, -0/+53Inaccurate: The original BBC story listed him as getting the PS2 AS WELL as the euros.
  • valentine76, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7why go to the cops, go to hawaii instead!
  • DestroyFascism, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2Pics or it didn't happen
  • minorthreat, on 10/11/2007, -4/+101jesus christ, half of you are morons....

    £ is a pound
    € is a euro

    £44,000 = $90,368.62
    €65,400 = $90,308.88

    • virtualball, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6You mean there aren't only two monetary systems in the world? US Currency and every other country?
      • toonworld, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3yes, it's called gold, silver, platinum and oil
      • PhoneGuy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1US Currency? Is that the kind that comes in a roll and can be used to wipe your bum?
    • grbruner, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I believe the confusion is from the kid buying the PS2 in pounds (£) but receiving money in euros (€). That coupled with most people just glancing at the article means a lot of people not even knowing there were 3 different currencies listed in the article.
  • RanZom, on 10/11/2007, -9/+5I would have kept the money
  • MozzieTS, on 10/11/2007, -2/+22Why do I think of that moment in Fifth element with zorg finding the empty case, but instead of empty it is filled with a PS2.

    "what do you mean, PS2"
    "I mean the opposite of PS3!!"
  • EricAnderton, on 10/11/2007, -2/+75Now *there's* a great money laundering trick.

    1) claim to get a huge pile of cash via a random ebay screwup.
    2) police investigate both parties, find no evidence of crime on either end.
    3) police hand money back to first party after 30 days.
    4) first party gets to pay taxes on a huge pile of (now legit) income, without triggering an audit.
    5) profit.
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -0/+22Not really. "Great" money laundering tricks are repeatable. Police would catch on pretty quick after you did this twice...
    • aznedy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Wait, you forgot one step.

      1) claim to get a huge pile of cash via a random ebay screwup.
      2) police investigate both parties, find no evidence of crime on either end.
      3) police hand money back to first party after 30 days.
      4) first party gets to pay taxes on a huge pile of (now legit) income, without triggering an audit.
      5) ?????
      6) profit.
  • sinequan0n, on 10/11/2007, -12/+1What Monstrous Idiot Showed That To Their Parents??? Even If My Parents Did Find It, I Would Tell Them I Won A Sweepstakes Or Some BS.
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Riiiight....and they would believe you? Your parent would have to be pretty dumb to believe some stupid ***** like that....
    • ICSU, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3And you would tell the same to the 3 big guys with Russian accent too, right?
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Is That Really What You Would Do?
  • opticsnake, on 10/11/2007, -2/+89My question is, who's the dumb ***** that's buying a PS2 for $194?
    • localzuk, on 10/11/2007, -0/+25Welcome to the UK. We pay over the odds for all electrical equipment and all entertainment (ie. dvd's and music)... £95 for a PS2 sounds about right if it comes with a couple of games.
    • shredswithpiks, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2with games and other stuff?
    • chrozz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15and 90k.
    • kryptonite514, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7I believe the correct answer to your question is the dumb ***** that got $90k for it... :-)
  • seandfeeney, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3OOPS...
  • Optimistic, on 10/11/2007, -10/+25Cool! Now he can buy 2 PS3s.

    • QueEsAmor, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2Oh, I get it, because they're expensive. You're a riot.
    • anthonylitz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I actually thought your comment was funny ;)
  • racerxs, on 10/11/2007, -11/+53Well if it happened in the good ole' USA it would have been easy.
    1) Receive money.
    2)Use $2500. to outfit yourself and family with good semi-auto handguns.
    3)Apply for concealed carry permits, carry guns.
    4)Shoot those that pose a threat to your families safety.
    5) Profit!

    (optionally insure other members of your family that do not score well at the shooting range with high value life insurance.)

    ;-)
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13Oh come on!! I can't believe that comment is being dugg down. That was funny and insightful...
      • crawf061, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Comment portrays Americans as gun-owning cowboys... results in negative diggs
        • groverblue, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2That's the mentality more Americans have.
      • razrielle, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2And a repeat
    • wraptor347, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5sounds like the 90k is just what this family needs to start its own racketeering outfit
    • grbruner, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Maybe that would work in some parts but here in SF - you can't get a concealed carry permit. Well that's not entirely true - according to information on the NRA website a couple months back there were 2 concealed carry permits in San Francisco County. That's 2 out of 770,00 and at least one of which is an ex cop.
      • Splitt3rxx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2yeah well SanFrancisco sucks, the rest of the country is nothing like it.
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Get armor, too, particularly for those that need the life insurance.
    • lksjfhdc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0nice joke, thought with the other guy i agree lol get some bullet proof vests if they can lmao
  • Felix57, on 10/11/2007, -11/+2what a ***** dumb ass he bought a ps2 for way too much especially for ebay now he has no playstation and minus $90,194!
  • NikoKun, on 10/11/2007, -3/+10how come this never happens to me? most I ever get is broken used junk, and horrible shipping times...
  • HarryManback, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3If it had been me, the story would have read, "A guy in the US who bought a Sony PlayStation 2 on eBay for ($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 money - ($90) to be precise
    • crawf061, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3took you too long to get to the punch line
  • kevinwiz, on 10/11/2007, -3/+48technically, this calls for negative feedback. he didn't get what he bid for.
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"We reserve the right to substitute an object or objects of greater value."
  • DeFex, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4oh look a lot of money. i think i will just tell everyone i got it! DUH!

    should have just done this:
    great ebayer thanks for the playstation +++++++ 1!one
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I'm surprised no on e has misinterpreted your comment and tried to corect you.

      "It was a PS2, not a PS one you idiot! RTFA!"
  • DTRNathen, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3what i want to know is...
    why was he buying a ps2?
    • weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4well i just bought one the other day. I wanted to play Guitar Hero, and a used PS2 was the cheapest way to do that. I don't intend on using it for anything else...
    • MarkOfTheDead, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1i just bought a slim ps2 new and bought guitar hero 2 w/ guitar from a coworker who had a broken ps2 and was saving for a 360, for $50 which was $20 more than he would have gotten for it at gamestop, and $20 less than i would have paid there, and i knew it worked. just picked up guitar hero 1 a few weeks ago used cheap and all 3 gta games for about $5-$10 each. hella deal.
  • MrZeolite, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Simple honest way to spend the money: every cent spent can be replaced by an IOU, which is just as good as cash - ala dumb and dumber.
  • Shroommaster, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2Wow, these people are stupid. They get this much money in the mail and choose to call the cops rather than just keep it. If they don't get the money back from the police they deserve losing the money for being so stupid.
    • Vvolf, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Honesty is not stupid. Its called good morals, something that is lacking greatly in this world!
  • Shandooga, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18That will probably never happen again--to anyone. Ever.
    • jax1492, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1never say never ... criminal are getting dumber every day/
    • BHSPitMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Stranger things have (re)happened.
  • popfrogs, on 10/11/2007, -14/+5Like the old saying goes..a fool and his 90K are soon parted. If that kid had half a brain he would've:

    a. kept the money and not said a word
    b. kept half the money and reported the rest, which he could get back later
    c. buried it in a box in the back yard to retrieve at a later date
    d. invested it in a low profile stock with a greater than 5% rate of return (or bonds, or a CD, or whatever)

    Bottom line: this kid is an idiot.
    • slapded, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8yeah and have drug lords cap your family when they find out you have the cash
      • noblepaladin, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1and they won't cap your ass after you go to the police and the article ends up on digg?
      • coolsteve, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1They can cap you and your family whether you tell the police or not. They've got your address. If you skip town, they will find you. If you don't have the money, however, you're less likely to get capped. Why would they risk getting caught if they can't even get the money from you anyway?
        • jedikv, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2He can buy his own protection with that money
    • localzuk, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1No, this kid is a law abiding citizen... There is a difference sometimes.
    • BobsYourUncle, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Not too familiar with the concept of criminals, are you? If they know they sent $90K, and they see he reports $45K, I think they'd assume he has the rest.
    • over9, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Well at least he gets protection from the police.
  • drmobutu, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Turning it over to the cops might not be the best move, either. The sender would stil know who got the package, and might want revenge...
    The smart thing to do would have been just to send it straight back to the sender...No police, no skim, no questions.
  • inigomntoya, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4"If the owner does not come forward by September 22, then the family can apply to have the cash returned to them"

    This could get interesting...

    "Someone didn't happen to turn in about 90K did they?"
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