Bartender Who Gained $1.6 Million From ATM Glitch Details His Exploits in YouTube Series
Dan Saunders recounts his four-month spending spree and subsequent legal troubles in a new YouTube series titled 'The Glitch.'
An Australian bartender who spent $1.6 million obtained through an ATM glitch has detailed his experiences in a new YouTube series called "The Glitch." Dan Saunders, then 29, discovered the loophole in National Australia Bank's system in early 2011.
While out with friends, Saunders found that after transferring $200 from his credit card to his savings account, which held only $3, the ATM indicated the transaction failed but still credited the funds. He realized the system was susceptible to this exploit during a one-hour nightly maintenance window when it was effectively offline.
Saunders repeatedly used the glitch over four months, accumulating $1.6 million. He then embarked on a lavish lifestyle, spending the money on private jets, fine dining, luxury hotels, limousines, champagne, and gambling. However, feelings of guilt and anxiety eventually led him to confess his actions on national television.
His public confession drew the attention of law enforcement, resulting in 111 charges for fraud and theft. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, ordered to repay $200,000, and given 18 months of community service.
The YouTube series, adapted from a podcast that garnered over 2.6 million downloads, features interviews with Saunders, his friends, and investigative journalist Adam Shand, who first reported on the story in 2014. The initial episode, released on October 3, includes Saunders' account of his first night exploiting the glitch, where he withdrew nearly $20,000. He described himself as a previously law-abiding citizen, recalling only minor transgressions from his youth.
Reflecting on his period of extravagant spending, Saunders previously stated he felt "more alive than when I was charging on my credit card." He likened the experience to being a "white Kanye West," feeling like royalty with the ability to be anyone and go anywhere as long as he had the card. The first episode of "The Glitch" is available on True Crime Central, with new episodes released weekly.