Posted by Clem/CA on 6/7/13 9:59pm
Msg #472601

What not to do as a notary

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/call-6-investigators/indy-notary-accused-of-selling-social-security-numbers-from-refinance-transactions

Reply by LKT/CA on 6/7/13 10:26pm
Msg #472604

<<<She has not been arrested, ............her license for notary work to expire in 2018, but it could be revoked...>>>

COULD ?!?!?!?

Reply by Luckydog on 6/7/13 11:08pm
Msg #472614

Amazing how they say this is a federal misdemeanor charge, and punishment is probation. Wow. Tell that to her victims when their lives have been thrown upside down and changed forever. Also amazing how the newspaper printed her name and address proximity for the whole world to see, when she was not proven guilty in court yet or even arrested with no record. Only filed the papers with intentions. She may make even more money suing the paper or the internet where they released her personal information for unproven allegations if she changes her mind or found not guilty. Stranger things have happened.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 6/7/13 11:17pm
Msg #472616

What?

Newspapers have historically printed the names and addresses of those facing charges. Suing the newspaper is not even in the world of reality. Newspapers/internet don't wait until after a verdict is in to print personal information about suspects.

Otherwise, we'd never know charges were filed, we'd never know who's headed to court, and if we had to wait until somebody with "proven guilty in court," we'd never know OJ was arrested and charged with murder and that the jury found in not guilty, not to mention that KK lived at his house!

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/7/13 11:32pm
Msg #472621

That's right GG. Not sure where Luckydog has been hiding. n/m

Reply by desktopfull on 6/8/13 1:20pm
Msg #472652

Everyone that had their SS given out should sue this notary

in civil court for restoration costs & damages.

Reply by Notarysigner on 6/8/13 4:16pm
Msg #472656

Re: Everyone that had their SS given out should sue this notary

The problem is HERE attorney's require a minimum $5,000.00 retainer (ten hours) and most don't have that sort of cash lying around to use cause somebody pissed them off.

Reply by 101livescan on 6/7/13 11:04pm
Msg #472613

Ms. Hodges on Linkedin

I travel and cover a large coverage area for the State of Indiana. Providing Professional and Secure Real Estate Transactions.

Secure meaning what? Professional, really?

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 6/7/13 11:30pm
Msg #472620

BTW ...

besides being a scumbag creep who trashed her notary commission and tainted all others' in the process, she's dumb as a bag of rocks. Only $20? If I were going to go down that road, you'd have to add at least a couple of zeros. (Hee hee)

What an idiot. Wonder how she got caught?

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/7/13 11:40pm
Msg #472623

Re: BTW ...

What's worse is that the prosecution apparently can only value the SS numbers at less than $1000 so she's not even stealing anything of real value. Of course, we all know that they could actually be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the right hands. What a waste of time. No wonder ID theft is rampant. It is a misdemeanor. Good grief. It's time to crank up the ol' letter writing machines and get the laws on these kinds of issues changed.


http://media.theindychannel.com/docs/ssn-stolen.pdf

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/7/13 11:59pm
Msg #472624

Re: BTW ...

We should keep in mind that she's innocent until proven guilty - and we may not have all the facts. BUT, I had the same reaction. I couldn't believe this crime was only a misdemeanor! I definitely agree that these laws should be changed. I'm sure anyone who has experienced identity theft will say that the cost was much greater. I've heard people say that it took them many, many hours over years of time before they were able to clear things up. The intangible costs are probably immeasurable.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 6/8/13 12:53am
Msg #472627

Re: BTW ...

"We should keep in mind that she's innocent until proven guilty "

According to the story, these criminal charges aren't going to trial since she's already admitted guilt and has filed a plea agreement. ... probably to get a sweeter sentence. I agree, JanetK, that punishment should be alot stiffer for this sort of stuff. I'm always amazed when I see stories about how light notaries get off when they abuse their commission to help commit mortgage fraud and now identity theft. Yikes!

'course I've always said identity theives work way too hard --- they should just be a loan signer for a day or two. (Don't tell anybody I said that, tho!).

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/8/13 10:57am
Msg #472644

Re: BTW ...

*We should keep in mind that she's innocent until proven guilty - and we may not have all the facts.*

Yes, I agree, and that is why I wanted to know the way things happened.

A quick search of the name of the accused in the news section of Google brings up another crime that was reported in Louisville, KY an hour and 45 min. away; different crime. Unfortunate coincidence???? I sure do hope so!!!!

Reply by jba/fl on 6/9/13 12:31am
Msg #472668

The article does state: She has filed paperwork that

she intends to plead guilty to the charges.

Not much of a stretch of the imagination, IMHO

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/9/13 8:11pm
Msg #472697

Re: The article does state: She has filed paperwork that

Missed that. Thanks for setting record straight!

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/7/13 11:30pm
Msg #472619

Would love to know more on how this occurred...the

crime and the bust. I don't want to believe it.

By the way, there is a notary in Indianapolis, IN by the same name listed here on NR. Says she is a title producer.

THIS is the kind of "mortgage and ID fraud" that notaries are tied to. Criminals who are also notaries commit crimes that cause ID fraud and mortgage fraud.

No amount of notary education and testing will fix a problem like this. The only way to fix this kind of egregious behavior is to make punishment and fines painful enough to make an impression AND follow through with it.

Reply by 101livescan on 6/8/13 12:19am
Msg #472625

Character counts...

Melissa dumber than a box of rocks thinking she could get away with this...let's see, if I see 10 borrowing couples a day, $20x20=$400...naw I'll stick with the $150 signing fee x 10 = 1500, for example, and walk free and easy, not feel guilty.

It's amazing what people think they can get away with. Can't wait to hear more details of how all this occurred.

We live in a crazy world. One of my live scan candidates this week came in without a photo ID for his contractor's license. I had to turn him away because he only had a paper temporary license since his wallet was stolen at Albertson's checkout stand. He got to his car, put his groceries in the back of his SUV, realized he had left his wallet in the store, went back, poof...wallet disappeared. Police were called, surveillance camera over the checkout stand revealed the customer right behind him picked up his wallet and put it in her purse....she's on tape...they are looking for her...happened just this week.

People are desperate. Need jobs...give people back their self respect.