Hello, people, and welcome back. Our aim here is to keep you informed. I’m Makayla, and today, we will be talking about something interesting, and that is 5 ways fraud private detectives catch mobile notaries forging signatures and notarizing signatures they never witnessed. You do not want to scroll past this knowledge. Don’t forget that, for excellent private investigation and skip tracing services, you can call at (405) 403-0106, and you will not regret it.
Introduction to the case
Notarization is the process of verifying the authenticity of a document or signature by a notary public. A neutral third-party official authorized by the government or hired by the clients is usually present to witness signatures and administer oaths. Before the notarization, the signer must provide proof of identity and sign the legal document in the presence of a mobile notary. The notary public will confirm that the signer is not forced or coerced into signing. Thereafter, a notarial act that is administering an oath or affirmation is done to confirm the signer’s intentions. The notary public will then attach a notarization certificate to the document, which includes their signature, seal, and other required information. But there are times that these mobile notaries forge signatures or notarize legal documents that they did not witness the signing. The fraud private detective can catch this fraudulent mobile notary by following ways.
1. Review Notary Logbooks
The first step that fraud private investigators use to catch fraudulent mobile notaries is to check for any irregularities in the notary logbook. It will help them see if there are inconsistencies, incomplete or missing information like ID numbers, signatures, or dates. However, some mobile notaries will take the time to fill it even when they never witnessed the signatures. Additionally, if the time and date in the logbook do not align with when the signers were available, it can be proof that there was a forgery in the documents.
2. Audit audio and video records
In states or jurisdictions requiring Remote Online Notarization (RON) or where recording is permissible, the fraud private investigator will request and review video or audio records to confirm the notary witnessed the signing in real time. This will help prove if the mobile notary is notarizing a legal document whose signature they never witnessed.
3. Document Analysis
Fraud Private detectives may analyze documents notarized by mobile notaries to detect any signs of forgery or tampering. This can involve examining the signature, the notarization stamp, and other important elements of the document. The private investigator usually takes their time to analyze the handwriting of the mobile notary and also notices if the public notary is notarizing an excessively high volume of documents.
4. Witness Interviews
Evidence of a mobile notary’s fraudulent activities can be obtained when the fraud private investigator interviews witnesses who have worked with the mobile notary. These witnesses could be colleagues of the mobile notary, past clients, or anyone who has been involved with the mobile notary in a professional capacity. Through their testimonies, they can corroborate the evidence and instincts of the fraud private investigator, and they can catch the mobile notary in their crime. While reaching out to witnesses, fraud private investigators reach out to the individuals whose signatures were notarized to confirm they were present during the process. Most of these people will tell the truth when they are taken unawares. The private investigator will also compare the notarized signature to known examples of the signer’s authentic signature to spot discrepancies.
5. Background Checks
Another method that fraud private investigators use to catch mobile notaries who are forging signatures or notarizing signatures they never witnessed is by carrying out a background check on them, which will uncover so many red flags in the mobile notary. The private investigator will take their time to go through the criminal records of the mobile notary, verify their credentials, and check if they have any disciplinary action in the mobile notary profession. While repeat clients may be a sign that a mobile notary is good at their job and can retain their customers, it could also be a sign that the client is encouraging fraudulent behavior, so the private detective has to look into it.
Conclusion
These methods used by fraud private detectives to catch mobile notaries who are doing illegal things help to maintain the integrity of the notarization process. It protects businesses and individuals, which is good. So, as an individual, anytime you suspect that a mobile notary is engaging in fraudulent activities, you should make your reports so that the matter can be investigated more. At Keefe Private Investigations, we know that you want that information that will help you with your case and figure things out. With our trained and best fraud private investigator in Oklahoma, you can get the information that you need. For more insights or our services, visit us at www.privateinvestigatoroklahomacity.com or vivien@ojpslegal.com.
