Focus on the Threat

“He went after my husband’s livelihood.”

“He’s done this to other couple’s before.”

Situation: Third party involved in business deal.

When a third party enters your life, and your world is turned upside down, it should make people wonder. There is a reason for triangulation. There is a reason why the third party is driving a wedge between a married couple. Ask questions:

1. Who is this person? 
2. Do they have something on the couple or one of them? 
3. Is there collusion?                
4. Was the couple targeted? 
5. What made them a target? 
6. Who else is involved? 
7. Is this a setup?

Multiple questions arise in a situation as this. As the parts and pieces come together, the fraud triangle begins to come together. There is a reason why the wife was ostracized by the third party. If the wife is moved out of the way, there is a direct path to the husband. The motive? The third party is attempting to find a source of money to feed his drug addiction or to pay off a tax debt? What is missing is the intent of the third party – is it to further a crime, extort, bribe or threaten a livelihood? Why are there multiple deadlines for completion on the project?

The Fraud Triangle Defined:
          A. Opportunity: No person or protocols in place to detect fraud
          B. Rationalization: Reason for dishonesty
          C. Pressure or incentive: Reason to commit a crime

In this observed situation:

Person A devises a scheme to go after the livelihood of married couples.

1. Pressure: Person A is hemorrhaging money; need to find an alternative source of cash flow to fund drug addiction.
2. Rationalization: Third-party justifies his actions by blaming the husband for “getting what he deserves.” Criminals say this to avoid accountability.
3. Opportunity: Exclusion of spouse that oversees finances, bills. No checks and balance system throughout remodel. 30% + over runs and increasing change orders. Red flags from the jump.

(This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, business or places, events or incidents are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.)

PC: CrazyBaobob