I quickly discovered I wasn't the only victim. A terrifying pattern emerged across Maple Hollow:
| Neighbor | The Deception | The Stolen Document Source |
| Evelyn Shaw (Retired Nurse) | A credit card opened in her late husband's name. | Gave Colleen his death certificate for reduced HOA fees. |
| Howard & June Bell (Elderly Couple) | A $75,000 loan secured against their house. | Provided mortgage statements for a "senior safety program." |
| Ramon Ellis (Single Father) | A tax notice for fake contractor income. | Gave his SSN for a supposed clubhouse employment application. |
We reported everything to the state financial crimes office and met Investigator Felicia Ward. Felicia was direct and calculating. She deduced that someone with access to association records was creating financial profiles to secure loans, credit accounts, and false contractor payouts.
"Most fraudulent applications are digital," Felicia explained. "She can claim a hacker stole the association database. We need an original document. Fingerprints. Ink."
Luckily, the bank found one. The very first application connected to my house had been submitted on paper before being scanned. It had handwritten notes matching Colleen's handwriting and partial fingerprints.
The bank placed it in a certified envelope and scheduled a delivery to my home for Friday morning. But Colleen was tipped off. My mailbox camera caught her the night before, photographing the postal routing label.
At 5:30 AM on Friday, I received an anonymous text:
Whatever arrives today belongs to the association.
Felicia intercepted the real mail. In its place, investigators planted a decoy envelope containing blank paper and a heat-resistant tracking capsule.
Then, we waited.