Gummy bear maker Haribo rewarded a man who found the company's lost $4.8 million check with candy. The man said the reward 'was a bit cheap.'
- A man in Germany found a lost check for $4.8 million made out to gummy bear maker Haribo.
- He helped destroy the check at Haribo's behest and even sent a photo proof to the company.
The reward for returning an almost $5 million lost check to the party it was made out to? Candies.
A man in Germany found a lost check for 4.6 million euros made out to confectionery Haribo received what he thought as a "cheap" thank-you gift of candies, the Bild reported last Thursday.
Anouar G., was on his way home from visiting his mother when he saw a piece of paper fluttering on the ground, according to the Bild. He picked it up and saw it was a crossed check for 4,631,538.80 euros, or $4.8 million, made out to Haribo from German supermarket chain Rewe.
"There was such a large sum on it that I couldn't even pronounce it," Anouar G. told the German media outlet. He then contacted Haribo, whose lawyer told him to destroy the check — which Anouar G. did. He even sent a photo proof, as requested.
Haribo then sent a thank you gift box to Anouar G. which included six packs of the company's products — such as candy — per the Bild. Haribo is well-known for its gummy bear candy sold in a gold bag.
"I thought that was a bit cheap," Anouar G. told the newspaper.
Haribo confirmed the incident to the Bild and said since the check was crossed, only the company could have redeemed it anyway. The confectioner added it sent Anouar G. its standard thank-you package.
Haribo did not immediately respond to a request from Insider for comment that was sent outside regular business hours.