…her mother’s new condo. In Florida. And you’re listed as the buyer.”
My daughter-in-law, Stephanie, had used my credit card to pay a $12,000 deposit on a two-bedroom condo for her mother, Pam. She’d signed my name on the purchase agreement. If the sale went through, I’d be responsible for a $240,000 mortgage on a property I’d never seen.
The fraud investigator, Ms. Grant, cancelled the card on the spot and reversed every disputed charge. She also contacted the condo developer, who froze the deposit.
I’d given my card to my son, Dan, for emergency groceries. He’d given it to his wife, who said she’d “handle the shopping.”
I invited Stephanie and her mother to my house for Christmas brunch. I’d already given Stephanie her gold bracelet. When they arrived, I handed Pam a small box.
Inside was a printed copy of the condo contract with my forged signature, the watch receipt and the fraud report.
Pam went white. Stephanie started to cry. Dan, who’d known nothing about the condo, asked his wife to leave.
Stephanie and Pam were both charged with credit card fraud. The watch and the handbag were returned. Stephanie never returned the bracelet. I’ve decided that was the most expensive lesson I ever paid for.
