Identity fraud is when someone uses false documents or a stolen identity in order to commit a crime such as stealing money from said person. Identity theft is often the first step towards Identity fraud and it is the job of a Notary Public to police and prevent identity fraud.

A Notary Public acts as the State’s identity screener and is one of the few people who stand in the way of an identity fraudster when he or she aims to commit their crime. By verifying the identity of anyone signing any form of contract, a Notary Public helps to prevent anyone from profiting by the use of another’s identity.

For example, in order to purchase a home, a signer needs to appear before a Notary Public to secure the title deeds. While the Notary goes about their usual business of confirming the signer’s identity, they help to deter those who would force others to fall into debt to pay for their house. The records that a Notary keeps in their journal aid to create a paper trail that allows the actions of the fraudster to be tracked and so aids law enforcement to arrest the culprit.

There are a number of things that a Notary Public can do in order to prevent identity fraud and whilst many will have learnt this on their state mandated exams and courses, others may live in states where these are not necessary. There are a handful of very clear guidelines pertaining to Notarizing and confirming the identity of the signer and, if followed, can drastically reduce the likelihood of an identity fraudster getting away with it.