Community Chat

[Kalli]

People who do this sort of thing believe they're smarter than the rest of us and therefore, they are entitled to take that money.  They think they don't have to work as hard as those of us who do an honest day's work for a living, because they're more intelligent than us.  And they think they can steal from their employer because that employer was stupid enough to allow it.  They are smarter than the rest of us and deserve that money.

I will never understand why any business, small or large, allows 1 person or a few, to have the power to do this without taking the time to install a system of checks and balances.

Interesting how business owners are always so shocked when they find out they've been victimized.  How can they be smart enough to start a successful business but ignorant to these possibilities?  (SMH)

[bri20]

My sister's company has an incident where an employee that booked and planned holiday parties and dozens of corporate dinners through the year was embezzling gift cards that the restaurant would issue as an incentive to book future parties.   The gift cards did not belong to this woman.  They belonged to the company.   It was well into the tens of thousands of dollars. It had been going on for several years.  

[corita]

      We knew a brother of a friend who got caught embezzling from a local bank!  We had seen him at friend's get togethers.  But I often wondered why in Heaven's name, this person ever thought he would not get caught!  It was such a stupid move on his part.  And yet, it was so sad and jarring -- to see a known person being walked into the county jail building in handcuffs on the TV local five o'clock news !!

[Deanie]

@Kalli  I think that is an excellent question and I am not certain there is a good answer.  Could be many things from ethics to simple opportunities. In this area there was a case of an administrative assistant to a well known name (you would recognize it) who had years of experience with him.  He went away for a trip and while he was away, called the Bank to make certain his loans were paid.  During the call, he discovered that his A.A. had taken out loans with this Bank using stocks that were kept in his safe.  She used the money to purchase a house for her daughter, a dance school for her daughter, trips etc.  This woman was well compensated.  And, had been a trusted employee for many years.  She went to jail, however, I guess it boils down to another one of my Maxims, put your trust in no man.

[Kalli]

@Deanie, it may start small.  But once they're not detected they get bolder and bolder, believing they'll never get caught because everyone else lacks the brains they have.  And they truly believe they're deserving.  No conscience, no remorse, no guilt. 

What you described fits the pattern.  I agree that many can't be trusted.  If you have a business, set up your finances so this can't happen.  Check regularly, don't give up complete control to someone else, and if needed, hire an outside firm to cross check periodically.