Re: In another area of life
Money transfers are not quite that simple even between banks in cooperating western nations. Every time I've been involved in a funds transfer the sender has had to appear in person to make the request.
However, these were all personal account transactions, and businesses obviously cannot work that way.
Under New York/Federal Statutes, the transaction described is clearly a fraud and the individual who presumably did not sign the transfer instrument would not be liable for the funds in most cases (some exceptions mostly having to do with unregulated accounts or very large sums of money exist that would complicate the outcome).
If you would like to test the law in your jurisdiction, simply have someone else send a fax requesting funds be transferred from your account to:
Stevie Nest Egg Account
Alpenschtock Fiscal Reserve (Routing Code 84115)
Hoordinon D.Q.T.
Zurich, Switzerland
Should the funds arrive I will confirm the success of the experiment and immediately return the money. I cannot, of course, stand as guarantor for misdirected funds lost in transit.