The ATM That Gave Free Money But Only to Strangers
Chuka thought he hit the jackpot when an ATM gave him ₦50,000 by mistake but the next day, it refused to give him anything! Instead, it started giving money to everyone standing behind him. Even worse? The money was coming from HIS account
Chuka was a regular guy with a regular job, living in the ever-busy streets of Aba. He wasn’t rich, but he managed. That is, until one day, his life took a strange turn at the UnionCity ATM beside the old mango tree. He inserted his ATM card like he had done a thousand times, entered his PIN, and requested ₦10,000. The machine beeped swallowed his card, and then spit out ₦50,000 instead
Confused but thrilled, Chuka looked around, pocketed the money, and walked away quickly. But the next day, something even stranger happened. He tried the same ATM, but this time when he inserted his card, it rejected him completely. But moments later, a stranger behind him inserted their card and suddenly, ₦20,000 came out, even though they hadn’t typed anything yet
“Wait… was that my money?” Chuka asked, stunned. The stranger, equally shocked, thanked the “generous ATM” and walked away smiling. Over the next few days, the pattern continued. Chuka’s card no longer worked for him—but every time he stood near the machine, someone else would receive random cash as soon as he thought about withdrawing.
Chuka soon realized something strange was happening. It was as if the ATM could read his mind, but only gave out his money to strangers. He tested it. He imagined withdrawing ₦5,000. The person next in line got ₦5,000. He thought of ₦15,000. Boom—another stranger walked off smiling. But when he tried to withdraw for himself, the screen would simply flash: “Insufficient Blessing.”
Panicked, he went to the bank to complain. The manager looked at him and chuckled. “Sir, our records show that money is coming out of your account—but only when others are around. Are you… doing giveaways?” Chuka groaned. “I’m not doing anything! It’s like my card is cursed!”
Word spread fast. People began lining up behind Chuka at ATMs, hoping to catch the blessing. Some brought their grannies. Others brought strangers just to qualify as strangers themselves. Chuka became a walking mobile miracle. “Na that guy wey ATM dey obey,” people whispered. And while strangers got richer, Chuka became poorer—fast.
One evening, broke and frustrated, Chuka sat under the mango tree near the cursed ATM. A little girl walked up to him and said, “Uncle, my mummy is sick. Can you help us?” Chuka sighed. “If you stand behind me at the ATM, maybe it will give you money.” The girl agreed. Chuka imagined ₦10,000… and sure enough, it came out. She took the money, hugged him, and ran off with joy
That night, something shifted. Chuka returned home, opened his wallet, and found ₦10,000 inside. Confused, he checked his account. Balance: ₦30,000. For the first time in weeks, money had come to him. The next day, he helped an elderly man the same way, and later found ₦5,000 under his pillow. It kept happening. The more willingly he helped others, the more unexpected blessings returned.
He finally understood the ATM wasn’t cursed. It was a lesson. The more selfish he had been, the less he received. But when he gave freely, without anger or complaint, life gave back in stranger, richer ways. Soon, he became known not just as “The ATM Guy,” but as “The Giver,” and people began helping him too. He opened a small shop, funded by those he once unknowingly helped. And every time someone said, “Thank you for that ₦10k,” Chuka smiled and replied, “I didn’t give it… life did
Follow me Peace Saratu Ayuba for more interesting stories
@highlight
Soon, people lined up just to stand near him at ATMs. He became a walking miracle: “Na the guy wey ATM dey obey!” Meanwhile, his balance dropped like garri in hot water.
But everything changed when he willingly helped a little girl — and money started showing up in his wallet and under his pillow! Chuka learned that true giving brings unexpected blessings. Now, he’s not just famous — he’s fulfilled.
Would YOU help people if your money kept disappearing? Or would you run? Tell us in the comments!