A 45-year-old man found a wallet and took it to the police station, but first made five purchases with the card without a PIN. The cameras recorded him and he now faces a criminal complaint.
A 45-year-old man found a lost wallet near a train station and, instead of returning it intact, decided to use it before handing it in. According to the complaint filed with the local police, the individual made five purchases using the victim's bank card, taking advantage of the contactless payment system, which does not require entering a PIN for small amounts.
The discovery occurred when the man was walking near the station. Upon seeing the wallet on the ground, he picked it up and, instead of looking for its owner, headed to a nearby shop to try his luck. The transactions were recorded by the security cameras of the establishments, which allowed the police to identify the suspect.
A Good Faith Gesture That Went Awry
The most striking aspect of the case is that, after spending the money from the card, the man did present himself at a police station to return the wallet. According to police sources, he claimed that he had found the item and wanted to return it, but failed to mention that he had already used it for purchases.
Officers, upon checking the contents of the wallet, found the bank card and other documents. However, the victim had already reported the theft and fraudulent use of her card, alerted by the charges on her account. The security cameras of the shops showed the man making the purchases, contradicting his claim of good faith.
The contactless payment system allows payments up to certain limits without the need to enter a PIN, facilitating this type of fraud. According to data from the Banking Users Association, this method has increased cases of misuse of lost or stolen cards.
Legal Consequences for the Offender
The man, whose identity has not been revealed, now faces a complaint for fraudulent use of a bank card and possible misappropriation. Authorities have confirmed that the evidence is overwhelming and that the case is already in the hands of the judiciary.
For readers concerned about the security of their cards, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of immediately blocking any lost or stolen card. Most banks offer mobile apps to do this in seconds, and customers can also call the customer service line. Additionally, it is advisable to frequently review bank transactions to detect unauthorized charges.
The victim, for her part, recovered the wallet but not the money spent. Her bank has informed her that, as it was a physical card use without a PIN, she may be able to claim a refund if she proves that she did not authorize the purchases. The deadline for doing so is usually 30 days from the date of the charge.
This incident, although anecdotal, highlights that honesty is not always complete. The gesture of returning the wallet could have earned him the owner's gratitude, but the prior purchases turned him into a criminal. As the saying goes, intention does not always justify everything.
The case is still under investigation, and the relevant court is expected to issue a ruling in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the man will have to answer for his actions, demonstrating that sometimes a small slip can be costly.
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