Post
Topic
Board Beginners & Help
Re: Exchange accidentally sent 512 bitcoins after coding error
by
hightax
on 02/09/2011, 18:11:23 UTC
When toner sales men ship you a crate of toner cartridges you didn't ask for, and then sends you a bill for those toner cartridges, you don't have to send them back, and you don't have to pay for them either.  Welcome to the real world.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/supplies.asp

That's only because the law explicitly allows for this, as a way to prevent unscrupulous scammers from sending you things on purpose just to compel you to buy them.  It's a notable exception to prevent abuse of the mail for fraud.

If toner salesmen park a truck full of toner cartridges in your driveway, you don't suddenly own their truck and their toner, as the exception no longer applies.

If those salesmen unload a pallet of toner in your drive way and drive off (just like delivering bitcoins) then yes, you do take ownership of them as the goods were abandoned on your property.