Fraud Detection and Risk Management
Fraud Patterns
Common schemes include impostor signers using genuine-looking but altered IDs, blank-document notarization where the signer presents a document with blank spaces to be filled later, signing-service pressure to notarize without the signer present, and forged seals on documents the notary never handled. Elder financial abuse often appears as a signer who is confused, accompanied by a new "advisor," and transferring property to a recent acquaintance.
Risk Controls
Controls include refusing to notarize incomplete documents, requiring the signer to appear personally every time, comparing the ID photo and physical description to the person, checking document pages for alterations, refusing to notarize for someone who cannot communicate without a controlling third party, and keeping the seal secured. Notaries should never provide their seal or commission number to a third party or leave a signed certificate blank.
Worked example
A courier delivers a deed with a signed certificate already bearing a notary's name and asks the notary to "just stamp it." The signer is not present. The correct response is refusal: no personal appearance, no notarization, and a report of the suspected forgery to the commissioning authority and possibly law enforcement.
Rule of thumb
Personal appearance, complete documents, independent identification. If any of the three is missing, stop. Pressure to skip a step is itself a red flag.