Corrected Article Text:
Google Pay users have reported in large numbers that Google has mistakenly deposited between $10 and $1,000 into their accounts. The money was received under the Google Pay Reward program in the form of cashback, but it was not intended to be cashback. These deposits were accompanied by a message that Google Pay Remittance was being tested, but those who managed to spend the funds received were promised that the money would not be taken away.
As users wrote and showed on numerous screenshots, funds transfers were accompanied by a message: “dogfooding the Google Pay Remittance experience”. The term “Dogfooding” is usually used to refer to internal beta testing before the release of any products. That is, only Google employees and, likely, some of the company’s partners should have received test transfers.
Google Pay users who received unexpected transfers have since received emails from the Google Pay team detailing “an error that resulted in unintentional crediting of funds to the account.” The problem has been fixed, and the company says that now such accruals will be eliminated “if possible”. For those users who have already managed to spend or transfer money, Google adds: “If we could not cancel the accrual, you can keep the money for yourself. No further action is required.”
Therefore, those who spent or transferred the money received do not owe Google anything, and the company states that it will not collect these funds from users. It appears that Google representatives do not want to waste their time pursuing individual users, as well as drawing unnecessary media attention to the incident.