Chapter 8 - THE FIRST FAKE SIGNATURE
The $680,000 consent was not the first.
Rina Patel found that.
Martin hired her as forensic accountant with Westbridge’s cooperation.
Three years of records.
My branch had made five “voluntary equalization transfers” to Lisa’s.
$18,000.
$22,500.
$31,000.
$14,700.
$27,800.
Total:
$114,000.
I had knowingly approved one.
The first.
$18,000 when Grant’s restaurant flooded and insurance was delayed.
I remembered.
I signed.
The later four used the same scanned signature.
Exact.
My real signature became a template.
“Why didn’t Westbridge call me?”
Rina answered:
“Established authorization pattern.”
“Meaning?”
“First transfer legitimate. Same family participants. Same branch routing. Same signature image. Internal controls treated them as repeat instructions.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Yes.”
“Who submitted?”
“Lisa’s family portal.”
“Verification?”
“Codes to Charles’s phone.”
My father.
I looked at him at the next meeting.
“You approved codes?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know each transfer?”
“Some.”
“How many?”
He looked ashamed.
“Three.”
“So not only the loan.”
“No.”
“How did you think I consented?”
“Lisa said you had.”
“Again.”
“Yes.”
He whispered:
“I kept thinking you’d tell me if you objected.”
May you like
I laughed.
“How would I object to something nobody told me existed?”
