Report a Client for Fraud? 23

[casseopeia]

I have a Client (Developer) who used whiteout and pencil to significantly alter a printout of a detail design that I had issued. It was then scanned and issued to the Contractor in electronic format with my firm's letterhead and my initials still intact, as if it had come from us. I was not notified of the change until I happened to stop by the project site to get some unrelated information and saw what they were constructing. I asked the Superintendent why he was not following what I drew and he said it was what I issued. That's how I discovered the change. The Superintendent was disturbed by the unauthorized revisions and said that he had a similar experience with the HVAC consultant just the day before. The Client had taken whole sections of the mechanical specifications, changed the equipment, typed up the changes, and literally cut and pasted the paper right into the Project Manual without the knowledge of the Designer.

I find this behavior shocking. The Client is certainly free to ignore his Consultant's recommendations, but to change the Consultant's work product and issue under the stamp of another licensed professional seems like it would rise to the level of fraud, punishable by the loss of a business license. If this were my own company, I would have dumped this Client a long time ago when he started in making sweeping changes in my investigation report, but my boss decided to continue the work. Just looking for opinions.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[jmw]

We're rooting for you Cass.


JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[dik]

evaluation??? regularly scheduled, or intimidation... Do you get a copy of this so that you can make any rebuttles, corrections or comments?

Dik

 

[jmw]

Good questions Dik.
Cass, did you raise your concerns about the fraud? They'd have to document it or you challenge their review.
Do you suspect they using this to establish groundwork for some new action later?
Was it a fair review?
Did you talk to anyone else in officialdom yet for advice?

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[casseopeia]

My evaluation was not good. It doesn't really even matter what the complaints are because at one point, after producing evidence to the contrary, I was told that I was too defensive. I brought up the doctored drawings and was criticized for using the term 'disturbing developments' in a communication because they thought it was too provocative.

I will admit that I feel defensive, but I am questioned on one thing or another every day, usually several times a day. Not big stuff. Little, insignificant stuff. For example, I put a proposal into wordprocessing. It goes through a review process where the HR weenie and two others look at it before it is sent out. The HR weenie sends an email to me demanding to know why I put her initials on the bottom of the document as the author of the proposal with an admonition not to do it in the future. I always keep my own copy of anything I write up in project folders I keep on my computer desktop. So I checked my copy and on the bottom were my own initials as author, my boss as signatory and the third space left blank. So I sent it to the HR weenie saying I had no idea who changed the author initials and sent a copy of the document I had kept in my personal job folder.

At least 45 minutes of my review was spent on this and similar incidences where I was asked why I had done something (wrong), and replied with, 'I did not do that, here's the copy I keep in my personal folder which is different.' Recently I started keeping the .doc version and a .pdf, so I mentioned that I started doing that if there was ever a question whether I was modifying something after the fact. I said they are welcome to look at anything I have kept on my desktop for reference. I asked if the HR weenie found out how the author initials got changed and her response was, "I don't care. It doesn't matter now."

If I didn't do it, and the HR weenie didn't do it, and the person who alerted her to it didn't do it, that only leaves one person who it could have been. So I asked if a similar email was sent to this individual and was told no. At that point I said "and you can sit there and seriously ask me why I am defensive."

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[cvg]

I'm curious as to why an HR weenie should ever be reviewing proposals. They should be sequestered on the other side of the building with the accountants. They are not allowed anywhere near engineering, marketing or admin in our company.

 

[casseopeia]

This is a particularly invasive form of HR Weenie. She even invites herself into lunchtime technical seminars just to get the free sandwich.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[controlnovice]

With many wordprocessing applications, there is a tool that allows for the tracking of changes. You'd be amazed at how different things would turn out if you can turn this tool on for all documents.

Another option is to only send documents in PDF form for review and approval, so that it can't be changed. I have too many problems with people changing electronic documents, I've switched to only sending PDFs.

______________________________________________________________________________
This is normally the space where people post something insightful.

 

[IRstuff]

PDF only makes it a bit harder, but not impossible to change. It's relatively trivial to delete a page and insert a new page in most PDF editors. Altering a page is slight more different, but, again, not impossible. You can export a page in TIFF, make the change and re-insert the page to the document.

To make it harder to do that, you'd also need to activate the security features, but even then...

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[jmw]

Slta:

Cass, seriously, what does it take for you to realize that you shouldn't work there anymore?

A seriously good question and ever more so as you reveal more events.
It is becoming clear they (or someone in the company) are out to get you by foul means.

So do I sound paranoid?
And are you trying not to be paranoid?
Take an objective look at what is going on and get independent advice.
I have known brown nosers borrow my work and present it as their own.

But I have never known anyone take my work and tamper with it to make me look bad.

Having written that last, I realise it is wrong.
I did suffer at the hands of the brown noser who did his level best to discredit me with clients, agents and management. It didn't wory him that he was doing no end of damage to the company just to further his own ends.
So it isn't that far fetched to think that someone is trying to get you.

I didn't have any help or advise. I stuck it out for some long years before being "rehabilitated" by new managers but the damage is still there.
There are some truly sociopathic people out in the world and they have jobs. Management is either complicit or beyond even the norms for bad management. They are not going to help you. They may be behind it. If not, they seem not to want to look at anyone else.

They keep springing things on you and you seem to have it covered.
But how often do they have to accuse you of something that isn't true and offer up doctored files to show you at fault before you realise this isn't normal.
It is possibly a criminal action by them or someone in the company.

You need some professional/legal advise.
(a) on the altered drawings as one separate issue
(b) on everything else in general.

And yes, ask for copies of the review report.

It seems to me they are trying to find or fabricate cause to fire you and not get slapped with a law suit, and you keeping back-up documents is frustrating them.
For the moment.

Document everything.
Anytime anyone challenges a document that is supposedly what you wrote, ask for them to email you their copy.
Your proposal that had the HR weenies initials on it: did you go to her machine and open up the document?
Did she email you her copy?
If not, you might ask for it (but only do so in a way that doesn't tip them off why you might want it).

Go to the properties page or bring up the revisions toolbar (tools, track changes) to see what what has been changed.
Maybe there is more you can do here, hopefully someone can advise.

So far, you have frustrated them by having original copies.
What will they do next?

I'd suggest nothing leaves your machine without some serious password protection but maybe you want a more robust way to demoinstrate the documents were tampered with after they left you.
So,set up to track changes.
Then make sure you make a one last change and save just before you email it and then you will have the revision time stamped and the email date and time.

Having your only back-ups on an office machine is not a good idea.
They probably wouldn't scruple to access your work computer and delete or tamper with files there.
You need to back up all your correspondence and outlook on a daily basis.

Store it on another machine they can't get at.
Outlook backup will have emails showing when you sent files and attachments (and start asking for read receipts). (Outlook backup tool).
Put it on a memory stick if that is easier and less conspicuous or CD if that is easy enough.

But there is no substitute for good professional/legal/medical advise. And you need a good plan of action.
Your objective is to do it to them before they do it to you and go on your terms and timing not theirs and with as much loot as you can carry.

Am I being paranoid?
Are you in denial?
I suggest that getting good advise and taking extra precautions is the safe option, paranoid or not.






JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[ewh]

"Paranoia is just a heightened sense of awareness"
— John Lennon



"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[lacajun]

Pettiness and jealousy abound with some people. They don't like you. They don't want you there. But, it sounds like they lack enough to fire you and are making it miserable enough for you to voluntarily leave. Some employers do this and it is despicable behavior. They will continue to gather "damaging" information about your performance and attitudes to continue the counseling to fire you. That's what I've seen in the past with others and myself.

I would find unauthorized alterations to legal documents with my name on them very disturbing. In fact, I think I would be shocked.

In my case, my boss goes along with the Client's change despite my objections, makes drawing revisions after-th-fact, then issues the changed design, it is not fraud, just bad business.

Whose seal goes on the drawings?

 

[casseopeia]

I have tried very hard not to be too paranoid. I definitely had the sense that they were frustrated by the fact that I have been keeping copies of documents that I produce as well as personal notes. I run a lot of the details by my brother for a reality check and generally trust his judgement. My brother's opinions pretty much run along the lines of most of the ones here. He tells me I am trying to solve irrational behavior with logical reasoning and that it will never solve the problem.

Sita is right. I have to get out as quickly as possible. This place just isn't normal.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[KENAT]

Well, sadly define normal.

There are too many places with at least elements of what you're experiencing Cass.

Good luck.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[lacajun]

When someone tells me to not keep copies and not write letters, emails, etc. to document my actions and work, it's time to start looking because they're up to "no good" and don't want to get caught. Been there and it's no fun. It can sap all the fun out of living.

If your seal ultimately goes on the drawings, it is not just poor business practice. It is a legal matter.

Or, you can shave your head so they'll not have hair envy.

 

[moon161]

Damn Cass, I figured out which movie you're living in: Chinatown. Don't know what to say, Jake.

 

[casseopeia]

moom161, I'll have to watch Chinatown again. It's been way too long and all I remember is not looking at the scene scene Jack Nicholson get's his nose sliced.

My brother said he thinks it's like Cool Hand Luke, "what we have here is a failure to communicate."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fuDDqU6n4o&feature=youtu.be

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[beej67]

Read Ron's post again:

You are now responsible for that detail. You can't rely on the manufacturer, other than to get some support for your objection to it. Even if your boss caved, as a licensed professional, you have "joint and several" liability, so unless the firm has indemnified you for professional negligence...you're on the hook.

Is it a detail that has public safety or health issues? If so, you have no choice.

Go to the authorities. What the client did was fraud, and illegal, and WILL come back to bite you on a condo job.

The blowback from going to the authorities will either get you laid off, in which case you collect unemployment and have a strong case when applying for a new job elsewhere, or get you fired outright, and you have a very strong case for wrongful termination and can go after these nitwits in court. Either result is better for you than continuing to work for them, and you get to either of those results by doing the right thing. It's almost a no brainer.




Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[jmw]

Hear him.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[jmw]

By the way Cass, you are one of several Project Managers?
Any of them having problems like yours?
Are they aware of the problems you are having? have they had work for this client modified that they know about?
Is this a repeat client?
Is this his standard practise?

You may just be seeing a little tiny bit of a big iceberg....


JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[moon161]

L.A. Confidential might apply too. Just don't wake up in 'Memento'.