Discover the three (3) essential insights that Notaries must understand about the threat of AI fraud!

Sep 4, 2024

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This article is a summary of a similar article written by David Thun. David Thun is the Editorial Manager at the National Notary Association. This article is a part of NNA series focused on Notaries and how they can navigate the age of Artificial Intelligence.

Notary fraud is a serious issue. It's crucial not to underestimate the possibility that a signer may attempt to deceive you to commit document- or financial-related crimes. The consequences can be significant for both customers and notaries.

The growing use of artificial intelligence complicates matters, as criminals now have more advanced tools to deceive notaries and the public.

Here are three essential facts notaries need to know about synthetic identity and document crimes committed today, along with the best ways to prevent them:

1. Never take notary fraud lightly. The consequences can be life-threatening.

It's dangerous to assume that notarizing documents for friends, family, or colleagues at the office is risk-free. Relaxing your standards can have dire consequences, not just for you, but also for your customers. Real-life cases of notary fraud have resulted in financial loss and even loss of life. For example, in 1998, criminals attempted to use fraudulent documents notarized by unsuspecting notaries to steal property and were later convicted of murder. In 2004, a couple was murdered after forged documents were notarized, and in 2008, a notary's improper actions helped criminals to steal and resell a victim's property.

2. AI technology is making notary crime harder to spot.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is making it more difficult to detect identity fraud. AI can be used to create false "deepfake" images and voices, allowing criminals to impersonate individuals with frightening accuracy. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed rules to prohibit the use of AI to generate images, video, and text for fraudulent purposes, recognizing the growing threat.

3. The simplest way to fight notary fraud: Always follow the rules — no exceptions.

Despite the challenges, every notary has a simple yet highly effective defense against notarization fraud: always follow the rules for proper notarization. This involves requiring the signer's personal appearance, properly identifying every signer, and carefully recording the details of each notarization in a journal of notarial acts. In real-life cases, the actions of notaries played a crucial role, highlighting the importance of adhering to proper notarization procedures.