Current:Home > ScamsHe got an unexplained $250,000 payment from Google. The company says it was a mistake-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
He got an unexplained $250,000 payment from Google. The company says it was a mistake
View Date:2024-12-23 16:14:57
Sam Curry, a self-described hacker, says he was mysteriously paid $249,999.99 by Google last month and that he had no idea why the tech giant simply handed over a quarter-million dollars.
"It's been a little over 3 weeks since Google randomly sent me $249,999 and I still haven't heard anything on the support ticket. Is there any way we could get in touch @Google," Curry tweeted on Tuesday with a screenshot of the transaction.
He added: "it's OK if you don't want it back..."
A staff security engineer at Yuga Labs, Curry told NPR that he sometimes does bug bounty hunting for companies including Google. That's when people are paid to help firms and other organizations find vulnerabilities in their software.
But he says he was unable to figure out a link between bug bounty hunting for Google and the sum dumped into his bank account.
The money was available for Curry to spend, but he said he was simply holding onto it in case Google tried to get it back. He said if Google took too long to get back to him, he might have to move the cash into a separate account to avoid paying taxes on it.
Ultimately, Curry guessed that Google most likely paid him accidentally. Turns out he was right.
In a statement to NPR, a Google spokesperson said: "Our team recently made a payment to the wrong party as the result of human error. We appreciate that it was quickly communicated to us by the impacted partner, and we are working to correct it."
The company intended to get the money back, the spokesperson said.
For his part, Curry said he was curious how often something like this happens at Google and what systems the company has in place to check for similar errors.
As of Thursday afternoon, he said he still had the money in his account.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- 'SNL' stars jokingly declare support for Trump, Dana Carvey plays Elon Musk
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Reunite in Rhode Island During Eras Tour Break
- Kansas City Chiefs make Creed Humphrey highest-paid center in NFL
- Striking out 12, Taiwan defeats Venezuela 4-1 in the Little League World Series semifinal
- Tennessee fugitive accused of killing a man and lying about a bear chase is caught in South Carolina
- Bears' Douglas Coleman III released from hospital after being taken off field in ambulance
- Taylor Swift makes two new endorsements on Instagram. Who is she supporting now?
- Fire hits historic Southern California baseball field seen in Hollywood movies
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Red Velvet, Please
- Hailey Bieber Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Justin Bieber
Ranking
- Amazon Black Friday 2024 sales event will start Nov. 21: See some of the deals
- Trump-backed Alaska Republican withdraws from US House race after third-place finish in primary
- Police search for the attacker who killed 3 in a knifing in the German city of Solingen
- 5-year-old Utah boy accidentally kills himself with a handgun he found in his parents’ bedroom
- Tennessee fugitive accused of killing a man and lying about a bear chase is caught in South Carolina
- Fire hits historic Southern California baseball field seen in Hollywood movies
- Can Sabrina Carpenter keep the summer hits coming? Watch new music video 'Taste'
- A rare orchid survives on a few tracts of prairie. Researchers want to learn its secrets
Recommendation
-
Whoopi Goldberg calling herself 'a working person' garners criticism from 'The View' fans
-
Inside the Shocking Sicily Yacht Tragedy: 7 People Dead After Rare Luxury Boat Disaster
-
'He doesn't need the advice': QB Jayden Daniels wowing Commanders with early growth, poise
-
Meet Virgo, the Zodiac's helpful perfectionist: The sign's personality traits, months
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Red Velvet, Please
-
Erica Lee Carter, daughter of the late US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, will seek to finish her term
-
Chargers players rescued from 'inoperable elevator' by Dallas Fire-Rescue
-
Dennis Quaid doesn't think a 'Parent Trap' revival is possible without Natasha Richardson