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I found a wallet at an ATM once that had close to $1,000 cash in it. While it did enter my mind to take the cash and pitch the wallet I did take it into the bank so that they owner could get it back. What would you do?

Honesty Always pays back...

I did the same thing once, when I was a paperboy I found a guy's wallet laying by a curb, so I went door to door until I found it's owner it had 6-800 bucks in it, but I didn't count it, just pulled out his License so I knew who it belonged to.. the guy handed me $50.00 bucks and was forever greatful..

I've also been on the other end of that Loss later in years... no money involved.. but I was a Baggage handler in Orlando International Airport.. lost my wallet loading a plane's baggage and got a call a week later from someone in Rhode Island who found it, they mailed it back to me... man it saved me alot of renewal's on all my Id's and ****...

Hog

Buck, I've been on the flip side of that situation a few times; in a hurry, left my wallet right there on the ATM. Both times someone called and I got my wallet back, once with the cash still in, once with it gone. In either case I was grateful to have it returned cash or no cash (driver's license, credit cards, social security card, etc).

If I found someone's wallet I'd give it back intact because people have done likewise for me.

If I found an un-marked briefcase with, say, a few hundred thousand in 100 dollar bills, that might present a more difficult ethical challenge.

The same. A guy on my second ship left his locker open and a wad of cash sitting out in the open. I locked it and called him a dumbass.

I've turned in wallets and other valuables too. When I returned a guy's wallet once he tried to give me all the cash that was inside. I refused it.

No, i'm not stupid, it is just that taking the money to me would have somehow taken away from doing the right thing.

Honesty does not always pay.

I have seen on more than one occasion where a boy found money in a bag and with his mom turened it into the police. After 30 days nobody claimed the money so the police rightfully were to turn the money over to the boy. The police decided to keep it and gave some BS reason. Not that they felt it was drug money, but it was a case of we're the police and you cant tell us what to do. The mom could not afford a lawyer so the little boy got screwed.

"If I found an un-marked briefcase with, say, a few hundred thousand in 100 dollar bills, that might present a more difficult ethical challenge."

If I found an abandond Briefcase I wouldn't open it to see whats inside.. I'd call the athorities and let them do the opening or disposal of it... this day and age there is just to much surprise that could be left behind...

Hog

Those cops were dirty thieves.

My story is bittersweet.

When I was just getting by (paycheck to paycheck), I lost a wallet with lots of money.

It was returned by mail- empty.

As a youth, I had a checkered past.

Now, I KNOW that if you do the right thing, the reward(s) will be forthcoming- quite often, while you're still on earth.

It's not karma either.

I would take the money and buy stock in Exxon so I could steal from everybody instead of just one person!

(Just kiddding, really)

Ahhh common, admit it.

You're serious.

I always knew he was like that.

What Goes Around, Comes Around . . .

what goes around does come around. I was at an ATM a few years ago behind an older man who made a withdrawl and walked away while the machine said would you like another transaction. I cancelled the transaction and ran to give the man his card and explain what happened. He was so touched to see that there were still honest people in the world He bought my books for my freshman year of college!

I was in a bar one time and a family (it was that sort of bar) was eating in a booth near to where we were sitting.

A boy (maybe 14yo) got up from the table and dropped a bill........the guy in the table next to them picked it up nonchalantly. The boy didn't see it, and I thought they were all together or something.

Whne the bill came shortly afterwards, the boy announced that he was paying for this dinner, as a gift for his parent's anniversary.........only he couldn't find he $50 bill he intended to pay with.

I watched this go down, and the boy started crying........the SOB who picked up his money was staring the other direction pretending not to hear.

I HAD to do something.

To make a long story short, that **** gave the money back and has not set foot in that bar since.

...see, thats a cool story Andy