Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Company That Used My Name
Daniel stared: The Company That Used My Name
Daniel stared at the banking notification as if the numbers might at the banking notification as if the numbers might rearrange themselves into something less rearrange themselves into something less terrible.
“Show me,” I said.
He handed me his phone.
The transfer confirmation terrible.
“Show me,” I said.
He handed me his phone.
The transfer confirmation listed forty-two thousand dollars, a transaction time of 9:14 that morning, and a beneficiary identified listed forty-two thousand dollars, a transaction time of 9:14 that morning, and a beneficiary identified as Whitmore Advisory Holdings.
My company.
Or, more accurately, a as Whitmore Advisory Holdings.
My company.
Or, more accurately, a company whose name closely resembled mine.
I had founded Whitmore Advisory Group eighteen years earlier. Its accounts were held company whose name closely resembled mine.
I had founded Whitmore Advisory Group eighteen years earlier. Its accounts were held at a major commercial bank, its corporate records were maintained by my attorneys, and its financial at a major commercial bank, its corporate records were maintained by my attorneys, and its financial operations required multiple layers of authorization.
This unfamiliar company had a different registration operations required multiple layers of authorization.
This unfamiliar company had a different registration number.
A different address.
And a beneficiary account I had never seen before.
“Daniel, did you authorize this transfer?””
He number.
A different address.
And a beneficiary account I had never seen before.
“Daniel, did you authorize this transfer?””
He shook his head quickly.
“No. I didn't even know the money was still in that account.””
“Wh shook his head quickly.
“No. I didn't even know the money was still in that account.””
“Whose account is it?””
“Mine and Vanessa's. Our joint savings.””
“Then how wasose account is it?””
“Mine and Vanessa's. Our joint savings.””
“Then how was the transfer approved?””
“I don't know.””
I returned the phone.
“Call the transfer approved?””
“I don't know.””
I returned the phone.
“Call your bank. Tell them you don't recognize the transaction. Don't guess about who did your bank.
Tell them you don't recognize the transaction. Don't guess about who did it, and don't authorize any additional transfers.””
Daniel immediately called the bank's fraud department.
I watched him pace it, and don't authorize any additional transfers.””
Daniel immediately called the bank's fraud department.
I watched him pace beside the window, answering questions in a strained voice.
“Yes, it's a joint account.””
“No beside the window, answering questions in a strained voice.
“Yes, it's a joint account.””
“No, I didn't initiate that transfer.””
“I don't recognize the beneficiary.””
He stopped pacing, I didn't initiate that transfer.””
“I don't recognize the beneficiary.””
He stopped pacing.
“Can you tell me who authorized it?””
He listened, his expression growing darker.
“I understand.
“Can you tell me who authorized it?””
He listened, his expression growing darker.
“I understand. Please flag the transaction and tell me what documentation you need.””
When he ended the call, he looked exhausted. Please flag the transaction and tell me what documentation you need.””
When he ended the call, he looked exhausted.
“The bank has opened an investigation. They said the transfer came through online banking using valid credentials. They can't.
“The bank has opened an investigation. They said the transfer came through online banking using valid credentials. They can't tell me anything else until their security team reviews it.””
“Were you the only person with tell me anything else until their security team reviews it.””
“Were you the only person with access?””
He hesitated.
“Vanessa knows the password.””
“Anyone else?””
“No access?””
He hesitated.
“Vanessa knows the password.””
“Anyone else?””
“No.””
I looked toward the sea.
The morning sunlight had turned the water silver.””
I looked toward the sea.
The morning sunlight had turned the water silver, and beyond the glass, guests were beginning to gather around the pool, and beyond the glass, guests were beginning to gather around the pool.
Everything outside our little room continued as though nothing had happened.
“Daniel,.
Everything outside our little room continued as though nothing had happened.
“Daniel, when did you last check that account?””
“About three weeks ago.””
“And how much was in it?””
“ when did you last check that account?””
“About three weeks ago.””
“And how much was in it?””
“Just over forty-seven thousand.””
I slowly turned back to him.
“So almost everythingJust over forty-seven thousand.””
I slowly turned back to him.
“So almost everything has been transferred.””
He nodded.
“Except the balance that was already there.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
has been transferred.””
He nodded.
“Except the balance that was already there.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Why would someone transfer money into a company using myThen I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Why would someone transfer money into a company using my name?””
Daniel looked at the screen again.
“I don't know.””
“Could it be connected to name?””
Daniel looked at the screen again.
“I don't know.””
“Could it be connected to the documents Vanessa prepared?””
His face tightened.
“Maybe.””
“Then we need to establish the the documents Vanessa prepared?””
His face tightened.
“Maybe.””
“Then we need to establish the connection before anyone makes another move.””
I called Helen.
She arrived twenty minutes later, carrying her connection before anyone makes another move.””
I called Helen.
She arrived twenty minutes later, carrying her briefcase and a folder containing the initial findings from the resort investigation.
When I showed her the transfer, briefcase and a folder containing the initial findings from the resort investigation.
When I showed her the transfer, she didn't react with alarm. She asked for the transaction reference, the beneficiary's she didn't react with alarm. She asked for the transaction reference, the beneficiary's exact legal name, and the bank's fraud case number.
Then she made three calls.
One to the bank's exact legal name, and the bank's fraud case number.
Then she made three calls.
One to the bank's fraud department, with Daniel's permission.
One to her firm's financial investigations team.
And one to the attorney fraud department, with Daniel's permission.
One to her firm's financial investigations team.
And one to the attorney who maintained my company's corporate records.
By the time she finished, her expression had become who maintained my company's corporate records.
By the time she finished, her expression had become more serious.
“The beneficiary appears to be a recently registered company,” she said.
“We more serious.
“The beneficiary appears to be a recently registered company,” she said.
“We haven't established who controls it, but the name resembles yours closely enough to warrant immediate investigation.””
“Can someone haven't established who controls it, but the name resembles yours closely enough to warrant immediate investigation.””
“Can someone register a company with my name?””
“Depending on the jurisdiction and the name, a similar business name may be register a company with my name?””
“Depending on the jurisdiction and the name, a similar business name may be permitted. That doesn't automatically make the registration unlawful. The important questions are who established permitted.
That doesn't automatically make the registration unlawful. The important questions are who established it, how it's being used, and whether anyone is misrepresenting an affiliation with you.””
it, how it's being used, and whether anyone is misrepresenting an affiliation with you.””
I sat down.
“Could it be used to move money?””
“Potentially. But we don't know whether that's what happened hereI sat down.
“Could it be used to move money?””
“Potentially. But we don't know whether that's what happened here. The transfer could have another explanation, though we shouldn't assume one.””
Daniel. The transfer could have another explanation, though we shouldn't assume one.””
Daniel was standing near the window, pale and silent.
Helen turned to him.
“Do you have any was standing near the window, pale and silent.
Helen turned to him.
“Do you have any business relationship with this company?””
“No.””
“Have you ever received an invoice, contract, or payment business relationship with this company?””
“No.””
“Have you ever received an invoice, contract, or payment instruction from it?””
“No.””
“Have you ever given Vanessa permission to transfer money from your joint account without instruction from it?””
“No.””
“Have you ever given Vanessa permission to transfer money from your joint account without discussing it with you?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“We've both made discussing it with you?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“We've both made transfers before. Usually for bills.””
“Did you authorize this particular transfer?””
“No.””
Helen wrote that down.
“Then transfers before. Usually for bills.””
“Did you authorize this particular transfer?””
“No.””
Helen wrote that down.
“Then your bank needs to investigate it. Don't try to recover the money yourself, and don't contact the beneficiary. your bank needs to investigate it.
Don't try to recover the money yourself, and don't contact the beneficiary. Let the bank preserve the transaction records.””
I looked at her.
“What about my company?””
“I'll have our corporate counsel Let the bank preserve the transaction records.””
I looked at her.
“What about my company?””
“I'll have our corporate counsel verify that no unauthorized changes have been made to your business records or banking permissions. We'll also review whether any of your documents have verify that no unauthorized changes have been made to your business records or banking permissions. We'll also review whether any of your documents have been used to establish the new company.””
She closed her notebook.
“For now, we have been used to establish the new company.””
She closed her notebook.
“For now, we have several separate issues. The resort authorization, the proposed power of attorney, the financial records that were accessed, and this transfer. They may be connected, but we need evidence before treating them as one scheme.””
I appreciated several separate issues. The resort authorization, the proposed power of attorney, the financial records that were accessed, and this transfer. They may be connected, but we need evidence before treating them as one scheme.””
I appreciated her caution.
Anger wanted a single villain and a simple explanation.
her caution.
Anger wanted a single villain and a simple explanation.
The truth rarely arrived so neatly.
My phone rang.
Richard.
“Mrs. WhitThe truth rarely arrived so neatly.
My phone rang.
Richard.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I'm sorry to interrupt. There's a development concerning Mrs. Carter.””
“What happened?””
“She hasmore, I'm sorry to interrupt. There's a development concerning Mrs. Carter.””
“What happened?””
“She has requested a private meeting with our finance director. She says she needs to correct an error in the original authorization requested a private meeting with our finance director. She says she needs to correct an error in the original authorization.””
“Did she explain what error?””
“She said your account.””
“Did she explain what error?””
“She said your account details were entered incorrectly.””
I looked at Helen.
She gestured for me to continue.
“Has details were entered incorrectly.””
I looked at Helen.
She gestured for me to continue.
“Has she submitted anything new?””
“Not yet. Our staff have asked her to provide written instructions she submitted anything new?””
“Not yet. Our staff have asked her to provide written instructions, but she insists that she needs to speak with someone first.””
“Don't, but she insists that she needs to speak with someone first.””
“Don't discuss my private financial information with her. If she submits anything discuss my private financial information with her. If she submits anything, preserve it and send it to Helen.””
“Of course.””
I ended the call.
Daniel had heard enough to understand.
“Vanessa is going to say this is all a misunderstanding.””
“Then she can explain the, preserve it and send it to Helen.””
“Of course.””
I ended the call.
Daniel had heard enough to understand.
“Vanessa is going to say this is all a misunderstanding.””
“Then she can explain the evidence.””
He sat down heavily.
“Mom, I need to talk to her.””
Helen evidence.””
He sat down heavily.
“Mom, I need to talk to her.””
Helen looked at him.
“You may speak with your wife about ordinary personal matters. But don't looked at him.
“You may speak with your wife about ordinary personal matters. But don't pressure her to produce or destroy evidence, and don't make threats. If you believe the pressure her to produce or destroy evidence, and don't make threats. If you believe the transfer was unauthorized, let the bank investigate it.””
Daniel nodded.
“I just want to know why.””
I studied transfer was unauthorized, let the bank investigate it.””
Daniel nodded.
“I just want to know why.””
I studied him.
“So do I.””
He left the room a few minutes later.
I stayed with Helen while she arranged him.
“So do I.””
He left the room a few minutes later.
I stayed with Helen while she arranged the next steps. We agreed to notify the relevant financial institutions, secure my corporate records the next steps. We agreed to notify the relevant financial institutions, secure my corporate records, and review the documents Vanessa had requested.
By noon, the, and review the documents Vanessa had requested.
By noon, the resort's security director had confirmed that the original authorization had been submitted through an email account associated with Daniel.
But another detail had emerged.
resort's security director had confirmed that the original authorization had been submitted through an email account associated with Daniel.
But another detail had emerged.
The message had been forwarded to an external address shortly after it reached the resort.
The recipient wasn'tThe message had been forwarded to an external address shortly after it reached the resort.
The recipient wasn't Vanessa's personal email.
It belonged to the newly registered company.
Helen read the address aloud.
I Vanessa's personal email.
It belonged to the newly registered company.
Helen read the address aloud.
I recognized part of it.
Not the company name.
The street address.
It was a commercial recognized part of it.
Not the company name.
The street address.
It was a commercial building in the city where my business had maintained an office years earlier.
I looked at Helen building in the city where my business had maintained an office years earlier.
I looked at Helen.
“Can you find out who currently operates there?””
“We'll verify it through the company's.
“Can you find out who currently operates there?””
“We'll verify it through the company's registered records and other reliable sources.””
I stood and walked to the window.
I registered records and other reliable sources.””
I stood and walked to the window.
I had built my business carefully, one contract and one investment at a time. Every signature mattered. Every dollar had built my business carefully, one contract and one investment at a time.
Every signature mattered. Every dollar had a purpose.
Now someone had taken my name, attached it to a financial document I had a purpose.
Now someone had taken my name, attached it to a financial document I hadn't approved, and apparently linked that document to a company I didn't recognize.
I could no longer pretend hadn't approved, and apparently linked that document to a company I didn't recognize.
I could no longer pretend that this was simply a family argument that had gone too far.
Someone had crossed a line that could affect that this was simply a family argument that had gone too far.
Someone had crossed a line that could affect my finances, my reputation, and my business.
And I intended to find out who.
At 12 my finances, my reputation, and my business.
And I intended to find out who.
At 12:38 p.m., Helen's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds before asking:38 p.m., Helen's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds before asking the caller to repeat the company registration number.
Then she looked at me.
“Margaret, the caller to repeat the company registration number.
Then she looked at me.
“Margaret, we've found the registered director.””
“Who is it?””
Helen turned her laptop toward me.
A name we've found the registered director.””
“Who is it?””
Helen turned her laptop toward me.
A name appeared beside the company's incorporation date.
It wasn't Vanessa's.
It wasn't Daniel's.
It was the appeared beside the company's incorporation date.
It wasn't Vanessa's.
It wasn't Daniel's.
It was the name of a man I'd trusted with my business for nearly twenty years.
**Edward name of a man I'd trusted with my business for nearly twenty years.
*Edward Pierce.*
Thomas's former business partner.
The man who had helped me build the very company whose name someone was Pierce.**
Thomas's former business partner.
The man who had helped me build the very company whose name someone was now using.
And according to the corporate filing, he had registered the new company just twelve days before our now using.
May you like
And according to the corporate filing, he had registered the new company just twelve days before our vacation.
vacation.
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