Russian factory worker refuses to return $87,000 accidentally transferred to his account

Technical glitch or a windfall? A bizarre payroll error in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, has led to a heated legal battle after a factory worker allegedly refused to return more than 7 million rubles (around $87,000) that his employer accidentally wired to his account, Oddity Central reported.

According to local reports, the worker, Vladimir Rychagov, initially believed he had received a long-rumored year-end bonus when he saw the massive deposit in his bank app earlier this year. Alongside his expected vacation pay of 46,954 rubles ($581), his account suddenly showed an additional 7,112,254 rubles – enough to make him an overnight millionaire.

However, the windfall turned out to be the result of a software glitch. The money, meant to cover the salaries of 34 employees at another branch, had been mistakenly sent to Rychagov instead. The company’s accounting department quickly contacted him, demanding the funds be returned.

Rather than complying, Rychagov began researching his rights online – and came to the conclusion that he was entitled to keep the money. “I read that if it was a technical error, I wasn’t obligated to return it,” he told Channel 5. “I later learned it was indeed a technical error, so I decided I had the right to keep it.”

Court documents tell a different story. The factory insists the money was clearly a mistaken transfer, not a legitimate salary payment. But Rychagov maintains that since the funds were labeled “salary” and came from the company itself, he is legally owed the amount.

As tensions grew, Rychagov says company representatives began making threats. Using part of the unexpected cash, he bought a car and relocated his family to another city. Soon after, a lawsuit was filed against him, and his bank accounts were frozen.

“I was even accused of conspiring with an accountant to commit fraud,” he recalled. “But those charges were dropped for lack of evidence.”

The case has already gone through several rounds in court. Both the trial and appellate courts ruled in favor of the employer, concluding that the payment was not legitimate salary and must be returned. Rychagov appealed the verdict, but the ruling was upheld.

Now, the case has reached Russia’s Supreme Court, where Rychagov continues to fight for what he insists is rightfully his. “There were rumors about a large 13th salary,” he said. “I thought it was part of our year-end bonus.”

When contacted by Russian media, the company’s acting CEO, Roman Tudachkov, declined to comment in detail but said that the firm would pursue the matter through official legal channels.

“There was no 13th salary – this was simply an erroneous transfer,” Tudachkov stated. “We’re operating strictly within the law, and the court has already ruled in our favor.”

The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether Rychagov keeps his accidental fortune, or has to give back every ruble.