# Dan Saunders Australian banking glitch exploitation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dan-saunders-australian-banking-glitch-exploitation > Updated: 2026-10-05T10:58:45.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3. In 2011, Dan Saunders, a former waiter and bartender from Wangaratta, Australia, exploited a technical loophole at a National Australia Bank ATM. During nightly network maintenance, typically between 01:00 and 03:00, the ATM entered an offline mode where transfers were recorded locally without immediate reconciliation with central servers. This created ‘phantom money,’ allowing Saunders to increase his balance by approximately 1.6 million Australian dollars through repeated, erroneous transfers over a four-month period. Saunders used the funds for extravagant lifestyle expenses, including chartered flights and parties. Following a period of guilt, he eventually confessed to the bank and surrendered to the police. He was subsequently sentenced to prison and has since returned to his former life. He is currently recounting the details of the incident through a YouTube series titled ‘The Glitch’ produced by True Crime Central. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-05: Dan Saunders exploited ATM glitch to withdraw 1.6 million AUD An Australian bartender, Dan Saunders, withdrew 1.6 million AUD by exploiting a nightly ATM system glitch before confessing and serving a prison sentence. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dan-saunders-exploited-atm-glitch-to-withdraw-16-million-aud ### 2026-10-02: Dan Saunders recounts exploiting $1.6 million ATM glitch Australian bartender Dan Saunders is recounting how he exploited a 2011 ATM glitch to withdraw $1.6 million in ‘free money’ over four months, a story now featured in a new YouTube series. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dan-saunders-recounts-exploiting-16-million-atm-glitch ### 2026-09-09: Dan Saunders exploited an Australian banking bug to gain millions An Australian waiter, Dan Saunders, exploited a National Australia Bank ATM glitch in 2011 to accumulate 1.6 million AUD through unrecorded transfers before eventually losing the funds. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dan-saunders-exploited-an-australian-banking-bug-to-gain-millions --- Cite as: Dan Saunders Australian banking glitch exploitation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dan-saunders-australian-banking-glitch-exploitation