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Dear Diary,
Nowadays the boss went on vacation and guess what he gave me...the Signature Stamp. I couldn't think it when he handed it to me. I feel my smile was from ear-to-ear. Doesn't he understand how stupid it is to give me the signature stamp?
"Are you sure you want to give this to me?" I asked all innocent like. In the back of my mind, I was already calculating how significantly funds I could possibly be able to get now that I had this new stamp.
"Of course. I trust you," he told me with an amused small smirk.
That smirk told me everything I required to know. My question had just convinced him that I was the sweet innocent young lady he had come to know so effectively. For the reason that - fool that he was - he sincerely believed that everybody was as open an honest as he was.
I almost felt bad about stealing from him. Pretty much. But then I would don't forget that I was creating less capital than everybody else in his corporation...everyone except the receptionist.
"I don't know. That's a lot of responsibility," I commented in the ideal hemming-and-hawing voice I could manage. "I definitely do not want to let you down."
"It'll be fine," he assured me with a light tap on my shoulder.
Then he strolled out of my office. An hour later, he left the workplace for beneficial. He was off to the Caribbean for the subsequent two weeks.
I waited an hour right after he left just to make sure he wasn't coming back.
And then...
Over the subsequent week...
- I signed some IRS paperwork with that signature stamp. No matter if or not the IRS paperwork is accurate...? Who cares. At least it is filed.
- I opened a new cell phone account with his signature stamp...got the "Unlimited Text and Talk" package...for my complete family. My daughter may perhaps only be 8, but she loves her pretty new pink cell phone. And of course, I really like my new iPhone.
- I also got a new Company Gas Card Account.
- I downloaded a new bank account application from online, signed it with his signature stamp and faxed the paperwork back. Got instant approval.
- I sent out a variety of applications to local vendors to get lines of credit. They all got approved. I now own a chainsaw from the neighborhood hardware store (due to the fact I can), an electric lawnmower from Lowes, solar panels for the garden from the nearby garden supply store, and $300 window blinds from Residence Depot.
- I ordered a bunch of magazine subscriptions in his name and sent them to my home. (I truly adore Cosmo.)
- I walked into Office Depot and paid for a whole bunch of workplace supplies with a blank enterprise check and his signature...which includes a new printer for my youngsters and a portable scanner for... I guess for the "heck of it."
- I went to the bank with a check made out to Cash. (That was an very easy $500.)
- I paid my new car's DMV bills with his check...and got my husband's car smogged.
- I signed a few petitions in his name. He's now a Democrat that actively supports breast cancer funding.
- I also got a PO Box in his name at the nearby Mailboxes Etc. workplace. All that new paperwork will in no way even come to the office.
- ...And I did a complete bunch of other stuff, although I can't keep in mind them at the moment.
You know what the most beneficial factor is, Diary? When he comes back, he'll have no idea what I've accomplished. Most of the paperwork will go to the new PO Box I opened in his name. And even if he comes back and asks to see the bank statement for the initial time ever, he nonetheless won't know what I've accomplished. I can explain away the DMV and car-related bills as "work needed on 1 of the provider vehicles," the Office Depot check as "supplies we necessary" and the Money check as "Petty Money" problems that came up. All the rest...nicely... there is just no way he can get out about that stuff. At least none that I can see.
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How to CATCH this Type of Theft:
You can't.
You cannot catch this type of theft mainly because you've given them a zero cost pass to steal from you. And given that your bookkeeper has access to all of your most personal information - social security numbers, DOBs, Tax ID Numbers - you've just created it super hassle-free for them to take something they want in your name. That means - YOU are responsible LEGALLY for Almost everything they've carried out. The IRS says you owe dollars, and they have your legal signature on file...then you have to pay it or attempt to fight it. It's your signature. And if you shed, you have to pay penalties and interest on leading of the paperwork they've filed.
Now you can Stop this type of theft by NOT giving your signature stamp to anybody who has access to your checks, credit cards, or any type of private information and facts. Maybe that individual is your office manager or receptionist. Possibly you can give it to your accountant and make your bookkeeper go to them to get your signature. Either way, by adding a second person to the mix whenever you go on vacation, therefore giving the second person you are signature stamp, you are taking steps to actively prevent embezzlement though you're away.
