Japanese man blows town’s Covid relief fund after it appeared in his account

[Still Waters]

A Japanese man who was mistakenly sent ¥46.3m (£287,000/US$358,000) in Covid-19 relief funds has admitted he gambled away the entire amount in the space of a fortnight.

The 24-year-old, who has not been named, was sent the sum in April as part of a local government programme to help residents who were struggling financially as a result of the pandemic.

But rather than sending him the correct amount – ¥100,000 (£621/US$774) – the town government of Abu, in western Japan, wired money intended for all 463 low-income households to his bank account, according to Japanese media reports.

After local officials realised their blunder, they filed a lawsuit on 12 May seeking the immediate return of the money plus legal costs, but were apparently unable to contact the recipient.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/18/gambler-blows-towns-whole-covid-relief-fund-that-appeared-in-his-account

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61477904

[glorybebe]

Yeah, no.  A huge windfall magically appears in your account, don't touch it.  

[quiXilver]

They can just go reclaim it from 'the bookies' 

Good luck with that...

[+Jon the frog]

5 hours ago, glorybebe said:

Yeah, no.  A huge windfall magically appears in your account, don't touch it.  

Or leave fast for Belize with it... and don't return home, lol !