Irina carefully wiped crumbs off the windowsill and placed her green tea gently on the table. Sitting down at her laptop, she prepared herself for the weekly ritual: Friday evenings were reserved exclusively for handling financial paperwork. Sorting bills, organizing receipts, and balancing her accounts was second nature to her, given her seasoned experience as an accountant.
Thoughtfully, she recalled, “The declaration has to be submitted next week,” as she clicked through various electronic documents. Amidst the usual invoices, contracts, and scanned files, one attachment caught her eye by its unfamiliar name: “Contract_2024_OnlineCredit.” Her brow furrowed in confusion.
Curious, Irina scrutinized the file. A logo marking a digital bank—a service she had never dealt with—was prominently displayed. As the document opened at a sluggish pace, an unease began to build in her chest. There it was: a loan agreement, a standard form but with a startling detail—the amount was 600,000 rubles, and the borrower was herself. At the bottom, an electronic signature had been applied via the government services portal, Gosuslugi.
Stunned, she froze before abruptly rising to verify her personal documents—passport, taxpayer identification, everything seemed intact. But she knew without a doubt she’d not authorized this transaction. Could the access to her Gosuslugi account have been exploited?
Her mind raced: “Only Valeriy knows that password… and I know his. We’ve shared login details before to help each other with urgent submissions. There was trust between us.”
Her voice shook as she called out, “Valeriy! Did you take out a loan in my name through Gosuslugi?”
From the kitchen came his distracted reply, “What loan?”
She hurried to confront him. There he sat, casually eating an apple and leafing through an old newspaper, his glasses perched nonchalantly. Without a word, she pushed the laptop towards him. His eyes acknowledged the screen with unmistakable recognition.
“Oh, that,” he said with a dismissive smile. “I was about to tell you. Lena needed it.”
“You used my account, Valeriy? You signed a loan agreement with my electronic signature on Gosuslugi without telling me?”
He shrugged as if it were trivial. “Come on, Irina. We’ve shared accounts hundreds of times. You would’ve signed if I’d asked.”
“But you didn’t ask! You went behind my back!”
He stepped closer, attempting to calm her down. “Why are you upset? It’s just a loan. Lena’s struggling; her business is failing. She needed the money…”
Her voice cracked with frustration. “I don’t care. You forged my signature electronically on an official government portal without my consent or warning.”
“Don’t overreact,” Valeriy replied, rising. “You’re an accountant—you can manage the repayment. Lena will reimburse you.”
She nearly laughed bitterly. “She will? The bank already sent me a notice for overdue payment—second installment missed! And no one informed me!”
Valeriy looked down awkwardly. “Lena was delayed… temporary problems. It’s nothing major.”
Irina regarded him as if he were a stranger. “Do you grasp the gravity of what you’ve done?”
He only shrugged. “I was just trying to help my daughter. You always supported us anyway.”
“I don’t care. You forged my signature on an official government portal without my consent.”
Sleep evaded Irina that night. Lying in darkness, listening to Valeriy’s even breaths nearby, her mind kept replaying figures: 600,000 rubles, 18% interest, two months overdue, penalties—this entire burden now fell upon her shoulders.
The next morning, she skipped breakfast and left the house silently. While walking to work, she resolved not to stay quiet any longer. This time, Valeriy wouldn’t assume she’d smooth over his wrongdoing quietly.
During lunch, she dialed Lena.
“Hello, Lena,” she began coldly. “We need to meet. In person.”
“Oh, Irina, hello! Come by, we’re having a sale—handmade candies, fresh shipments…”
“No, Lena. This concerns the loan taken out in my name by your father.”
Silence followed.
“He told me you were aware,” Lena finally replied.
“I found out just two days ago from a bank notice about the missed payment. Can you explain how this happened?”
Lena sighed heavily, as though disturbed from something important. “Honestly, I was overwhelmed. Didn’t expect such a strong reaction. We’ll pay it all back. Dad said you’d understand.”
“Understand—that my signature was forged, my data used without permission, and now the bank threatens legal action against me?”
“There won’t be a court case—it’s just procedure,” Lena insisted.
“No, it’s a criminal offense. I’m reporting this to the police. Unless the loan is re-registered to your father or to you, I will have to face the bank’s lawsuit. Then you and Valeriy will explain yourselves to the investigators.”
“Wait! Don’t be so harsh. We’re family…” Lena pleaded.
“We’re not family,” Irina countered firmly. “We barely know each other. You didn’t inform me, apologize, or offer repayment. You simply used me as your cash source.”
“I thought you consented! Your father said you agreed through him!” Lena shouted.
“He lied—and you knew it,” Irina said before hanging up.
Returning home, Irina found Valeriy cooking, avoiding her gaze. He asked casually, “Did you speak with Lena?”
“Yes; she believes I’m overreacting and insists it’s just a formality,” Irina replied coldly.
Valeriy smiled faintly. “In a way, it is. I knew you wouldn’t make a fuss. You’re always the problem-solver, strong and smart.”
“No, Valeriy. I’m done being ‘smart.’ I’m tired of cleaning up after everyone else’s messes.”
He paused, wiping his hands. “Why go public or involve police immediately? This is a family matter.”
“You always hide behind ‘family’ to excuse wrongdoings,” she retorted. “Enough.”
A flicker of fear appeared in his eyes.
“Have you already reported to the police?”
“Not yet. I’m giving you two days. Either you re-register the loan or I proceed with the report.”
“And if the bank refuses to transfer the loan?”
“Then we resolve this in court. I will not pay for secret schemes executed without my knowledge.”
- Two days passed in tension and silence.
- Valeriy feigned normalcy, but Irina noticed signs of guilt—nail-biting, pacing, whispered calls.
- Finally, she received an alarming bank email declaring the loan delinquent and collection ongoing.
That evening, Valeriy’s face darkened upon seeing the letter she left on the kitchen table.
“What kind of person are you, Ira? You’re really reporting me for a mistake?” he murmured.
“This is not a mistake, Valeriy. It’s a betrayal,” she responded.
He slumped, hands on his face, confessing his desperation to help Lena who had been declined by her bank and faced rent problems. “I trusted you would understand.”
Irina, reflecting on years of unsolicited support, saw through his excuses and asked, “Would you have ever told me the truth?”
His silence confirmed her fears.
That night, she packed Valeriy’s belongings.
“Do you want me to leave?” he stammered at the door.
“No, I don’t wish to go. But I can’t stay with someone using me like an ATM. I am a person—not a bank, not a service.”
Rooted to the spot, he sighed and sat down. “We’re married. This is our home.”
Her face hardened. “Very well. Then I am leaving.”
His disbelief was palpable; he never believed she would follow through.
Within days, with the help of a coworker, she moved to a small rented apartment, unshaken by puzzled neighbors. Relief overtook shame or fear.
That evening, Lena called, enraged.
“Why did you do this? Dad’s unstable, staying with friends, and my business is halted. You could have helped!”
“I already did—for years. Now it’s enough.”
“You destroyed your family!”
“My family is myself, and I chose to protect it,” Irina responded quietly.
Three months later, Irina’s new life offered peace—silence in the morning, favorite tea and shows in the evening, an undisturbed retreat far from prior tension. Meanwhile, the bank confirmed the loan misuse and began investigating.
One day, a disheveled yet calm Valeriy visited.
“I’ve consulted a lawyer and understand everything now. Please withdraw the police report. I’ll repay the loan personally.”
Her long silence conveyed more than any words. Finally, she agreed but only on one condition: complete detachment from her life.
He nodded, “I won’t interfere anymore.”
Weeks later, Valeriy returned, suitcase in hand, announcing plans to move away and relinquish the apartment to Irina, expressing regret for the turmoil caused.
She simply nodded, grasping the house key with a sense of reclaiming her own space.
When Lena called again, shouting accusations of destruction and abandonment, Irina calmly replied, “He left on his own. We are all responsible for our choices.” Then she ended the call.
Days later, the bank notified Irina of a payment made toward the loan by Valeriy. Although feelings were muted, relief washed over her—finally, matters were moving toward resolution.
Opening her window to the fresh spring air, with life’s vibrant sounds around her, Irina brewed tea and smiled quietly to herself: “Now, I can live for myself again.”
Key Insight: Trust and shared access can become vulnerabilities if boundaries are blurred. Protecting one’s personal and financial integrity is crucial—especially when those closest to us breach it.
This account underscores the importance of vigilance with personal data, the consequences of unauthorized financial actions, and the courage it takes to reclaim independence and peace of mind.