Our personal information, including our home addresses, is slathered all over the internet for anyone around the world to see. Unfortunately, financial crime has risen over the years and thieves have become quite savvy in the methods they use to bilk unsuspecting people out of their money. Our notary commissions are unfortunately just one of the many items readily available for them to use. They have also been known to pose as real estate agents, escrow officers, and loan officers. They do anything they can to make their companies look legitimate by registering business names with state officials, designing business cards and letterhead using fake company logos, design elaborate websites with pretty pictures of people, names, phone numbers, and e mail addresses in order to fool people.
While we can't stop these savvy criminals from what they do, we can learn to be aware of what is going on out there and learn to protect ourselves the best we can. I believe we as notaries are the only public servant that is required to list our home address on the internet. That has got to change. First thing tomorrow morning . . . make that Tuesday morning . . . tomorrow is EOM day and I'm totally booked up . . . I am going to call the Minnesota Secretary of State's office and see what I can do to change that. I also plan to write my state representatives and let them know what is happening out there and that this needs to change.
Good luck to all, continued success to everyone, and please stay safe out there.
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