Business at the First National Bank continued on the surface as usual without public awareness of Federal Bank Examiners’ investigation, the fraudulent wire transfer of 2½ million dollars, of Second Vice-President Holder’s suicide, or the possible insolvency of the bank. But Matt Werner knew it would not take long before it all made the papers. The tellers kept busy with the daily flow of deposits, withdrawals and cashing checks. The loan department negotiated the best deals they could for car loans for their regular customers. And President Matt Werner patrolled the lobby as normal, with his smile and a friendly word on the surface, while his gut churned in turmoil. So it came as a pleasant surprise when a Mrs. Rankin Simpson stepped up to him in the lobby and asked to whom she might talk regarding employment. He was about to refer her to the bank’s personnel manager, when he off handedly asked in passing, what sort of work was she seeking. Mrs. Simpson had excellent posture and a soft but confident nature about her, and…yes, and she was lovely. She looked Matt directly in the eye. “I am hopeful the bank might be able to use me, for I am an experienced, graduate CPA. I have been an accounts manager in a large bank in Salem, Oregon until my husband was transferred here.” Matt’s heart skipped a beat. They had been stretched in that department since Jimmy Holder’s death, scrambling to cover the work, and distracted no end by the on-going Examiner’s investigation, and the authorities’ constant visits and questions. Matt extended his hand and received a strong, firm handshake from Mrs. Simpson in return. On second glance, this handsome, middle aged woman wore a beautiful, expensive wedding ring. Her elegant but modest dress fitted well her curvaceous figure. She wore a single strand of pearls; her shoes like the rest of her attire, reflected excellent and expensive taste. A bit of gray evidenced its self in perfectly coiffured hair, and a slightest soft floral scent emanated from her. This second appraisal of this striking woman that momentarily distracted—yes and slightly befuddled him—accompanied the question, could Providence be so good at such a calamitous time to drop into our lap someone qualified to replace Jimmy? Holding her hand a few seconds longer than probably appropriate, Matt introduced himself. “I am Matt Werner, the President of the Bank. Before I have you talk to our Human Resources Department, why don’t you step into my office and tell me more about yourself.” He gave her his most practiced ‘pleasant, customer-friendly professional smile’. “If you will follow me, Mrs. Simpson,” and led the way to his office. Matt Werner never allowed personal, psychological distractions to interfere with his conduct as an extraordinary business executive. Never. Until now.
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P oised, Mrs. Simpson explained that her husband had been offered an attractive position in a company in a neighboring community. At the appropriate time she produced a résumé. It showed her birthplace, Roseville, California, a small town near Sacramento. She had been married for twenty years and had no children. The two page résumé she produced contained a full list of her college and special graduate courses, all with an A grade, and former employment, with individual references and their telephone numbers. After a quick scan and some comments, Matt focused on her experience in accounting and banking. But before he had completed the second review, he glanced up and made some inane comment so he could examine this very lovely middle aged woman again. It was at this moment he made a mistake that he would refer back to in coming weeks and years as an unbelievable breach in his unimpeachable professionalism to date. He decided to hire her, even before she talked with Human Resources. He told himself, he could not believe the bank’s good fortune. Her résumé looked excellent. Her experience fit exactly what the bank needed at such a critical time to fill such a huge hole in the Accounts Department. And he thought, she looks and smells good! Of course he would have Human Resources vet her past history and she must be bonded for such a critical position. But he had already decided, the lovely Mrs. Simpson would be hired, on a temporary basis, of course, until she was vetted by Resources and had worked on trial for six months. They would provide full benefits during this provisionary period. Again, his best judgment was skewed, for he felt a bit sorry to put her into a new and strange environment fraught with turmoil, Federal Examiners and detectives underfoot, and a serious fraud case hovering. He wanted this experienced woman on his staff. He pushed aside the nagging reminder, literally trying to avoid thinking about the critical issue. Any bank employee with access to funds, securities, and accounts is required by the United States Department of Labor to be bonded under the LMRDA and the CSRA. He rationalized that he could allow her to start as a temporary while he contacted them with the necessary information. He personally walked her back to Human Resources and introduced her. Then he made the call to the bonding company to initiate that process. He felt sure he could convince them to make a few calls on her résumé, and then give him a temporary okay, bonding her until they did the full research to validate her credentials. They hesitated, but after a bit of cajoling agreed to make some calls immediately. The bank and Matt had such unimpeachable reputations. They wanted to accommodate him and would try and make a exception. They would get back to him by the end of the day. What Matt and Human Resources did not know was that Mrs. Simpson happened to be a fraudulent construct. Those who were behind Jimmy Holder’s departure into crime had gone to great expense and effort to research and find, then hire her and her specialists’ team. This lovely, talented con-artist with exacting false credentials fronted a team that tuned information and skills for exact situations just like this. When the Human Resources people called the telephone numbers of her references, their calls rang in a room of a rented building in a neighboring state, answered by individuals especially informed and trained to validate Mrs. Simpson. The telephone numbers of the schools from which she said she graduated, and that of the banks she that she listed were her former employers, were false. Calls made to different states were routed to that same room staffed 24 hours a day.
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