Posted by 1lessday on 7/29/08 10:33am
Msg #257458

impersonating a notary

I had someone come to my house to notarize a deed, done the job, left everything went as planned....then was introduced to a lady a few weeks after that, same name but half the other ladies age!!! Have idea mother/daughter type thing. Only one has notary commission already checked it out but tried to turn them in to state but said they could not do anything about it, any suggestions.

Reply by GA/Atty on 7/29/08 11:04am
Msg #257466

This reminds me of the scene in "The Untouchables"

where Kevin Costner ( Elliott Ness) tells Sean Connery (a Chicago cop) that he is a Treasury agent to explain why he is carrying a concealed gun. When Connery says ok and walks off, Costner calls after him and says, "Hey, what's wrong with you? How do you know I am really a Treasury agent?".

Connery replies, "Who would claim to be that, who is not?"

Reply by sue_pa on 7/29/08 12:35pm
Msg #257487

Why don't you do another deed to cover yourself so your transaction isn't declared invalid in the future? (not sure how the 'fraudulent' notarization would ever come to light but who knows).

How to 'prove' that the person in front of you wasn't the 'real' notary is going to be an uphill battle. If your SOS won't help, I don't know what to say. What about suing in small claims court for your costs - if she shows up to defend you can swear she wasn't the one who did your notarizations. If she shows up and it's her, you're eating the costs and some crow.

Reply by Maureen_nh on 7/29/08 12:52pm
Msg #257491

I don't know about your state, but in mine, we have to send a signature card to the county.
If the same is true with your state check the sigs.
I forget if DOB was included in my documentation, but that might be an idea also.
sue has a point about the validity of the deed and maybe the county recorder will be more interested than the lazy so and so at your SOS.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 7/29/08 1:02pm
Msg #257495

If the deed was for something you purchased, check into it (but purchase deeds usually are only signed by the seller, not the buyer). If it is deed of trust for a loan, if it turns out the deed is invalid, that is to your benefit, so let the lender worry about finding and solving the problem.

Next time the SOS is up for election (or the Governor if he/she is appointed) put a sign up in your yard for the opponent.

Reply by JanetLA on 7/29/08 1:51pm
Msg #257511

Just passed a law in Louisiana making it a crime. Perhaps

others should initiate legislation in their respective states to do the same. Check out our new law. Interesting... Have a great week to all

Reply by HB/CA on 7/29/08 3:24pm
Msg #257535

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but it seems that all notaries should have a photo id card or badge. In this age of id theft and fraud, how does anyone know for sure that the "notary" in front of them is really a notary?

Reply by ZeeCA on 7/29/08 3:42pm
Msg #257541

anyone can make an official looking bage or card... n/m

Reply by HB/CA on 7/29/08 4:20pm
Msg #257560

Re: anyone can make an official looking bage or card...

Very true. Assuming 99% of us are honest, the 1% who aren't have more evidence to assist in their conviction. In addition to impersonating a notary, creating fake credentials shows a greater intent to defraud the public and should carry a hefty jail sentence.

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/29/08 4:36pm
Msg #257564

How do you know they simply didn't share the same name? It's not common with mothers and daughters, but it does happen.

Madonna's mother was also named Madonna, Lucille Ball named her daughter Lucie.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/29/08 11:02pm
Msg #257624

I must be missing something here...

"I had someone come to my house to notarize a deed, done the job, left everything went as planned....then was introduced to a lady a few weeks after that, same name but half the other ladies age!!! Have idea mother/daughter type thing. Only one has notary commission already checked it out but tried to turn them in to state but said they could not do anything about it, any suggestions."

What in any of this makes you think that either person was impersonating a notary? You said you were "introduced" to the other woman with the same name - does that mean you were just introduced, or did she also notarize something for you?

Based on the info you've posted, I can't imagine why this would be a problem.