Ultimate test of honesty for Yorkshire web designer who found mystery £1.25m in his bank

If that is the case, Barnsley web designer Kieran McKeefery passed with flying colours after he was left shocked and surprised by the mystery cash transfer.

The 21-year-old phoned his bank, Natwest, and asked them to investigate but they could only tell him that the enormous bank-to-bank payment had come from an investment company – and it was up to their bank to take it back.

An agonising 10 days later the firm retrieved the cash, leaving Mr McKeefery a bonus of £210 of interest for his troubles.

“I was a bit phased at first. It was such a copious amount of money to be in my bank,” he said. “It was very strange and quite scary when you are in that position, checking your bank to see if £1.25m is in there.

“I didn’t know what to do, except just wait and think about all the things I could have spent it on.”

The massive payment was marked only as ‘CHAPS Payment’ – a Clearing House Automated Payment System – on January 27.

It took until February 10 for the money to leave his account, aside from the interest.

He said: “I spoke to my partner and she said to just leave it there and don’t touch it.

“I was buying a new car the next day and I could have paid for it in cash – and bought quite a few more – with the money in my account.

“The bank wasn’t really playing ball. It was a bit crazy really.”

He added: “The interest was pretty good really and they haven’t asked for it back.”