As a notary public in Oklahoma, part of your job is to verify the identity of document signers. In some cases, signers might attempt to use a fake ID. If this happens, it’s important to take steps to ensure that the document is not being signed under false pretenses.
Real-Life Experiences of Notary Public Agents in OKC
While working as a signatory for Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers, I had the interesting experience of having a client in Oklahoma try to pass off a fake identification card as her own. This can potentially prove to be very hazardous to those working in the endorser profession, and a notary public agent in Oklahoma City working for witness in OKC should make sure to pay special attention to this matter.
As an endorser agent in Oklahoma, you are responsible for verifying the identity of all signers. This means that a signatory agent in Oklahoma City working for notary public in OKC, must carefully examine all forms of identification presented to ensure that they are valid.
Ensuring the validity of an identification used by a client to prove his or her identity is crucial, and there are several ways a signatory agent in Oklahoma City working for witness in OKC can help make the process easier.
When I initially spoke with this particular client on the phone, I asked her to try to bring in some kind of state or federal identification with her to the Oklahoma Judicial Process Server’s corporate office. State or federal identifications such as a driver’s license, state identification card, or passport usually have more security features and are harder, though not impossible, to forge. These kinds of identifications give the endorser/mobile notaries in Oklahoma more protection over such things as student identification cards, etc.
One thing that particularly stood out about the driver’s license the lady presented to me in Oklahoma was that the license itself looked somewhat broken/fragmented. Upon further examination, I was able to determine that someone had done a very poor job of gluing two pieces of completely different licenses together.
The two pieces did not even really fit together and did not contain the same information, so luckily, as a registrar in Oklahoma City working for notary public in OKC, I was able to spot this forgery rather easily.
Notary Public in Oklahoma Keep a Record of All Signatories
Mobile notaries in Oklahoma should also keep a logbook of who signs documents. An endorser representative agent in Oklahoma City working for notary public in OKC can have each person sign the book as well, which can later help both you and your potential client if the need for additional verification should ever arise. These books do not cost much and are fairly inexpensive.
Public Notaries in Oklahoma and a signatory agent in Oklahoma City working for witness in OKC can easily find them online or at companies like Walker & Walker. Sometimes making a small investment can pay out big dividends down the road in terms of a notary public’s time, possible legal expenses, and general headaches arising from forgeries or other mistakes.
Steps to Take
There are a number of steps that an endorser in Oklahoma City working for a notary public in OKC, can take in a situation as mentioned above. These steps can help a signatory in Oklahoma City working for registrar in OKC stay safe and not end up making the mistake of verifying false identification cards.
Refuse Fake Identifications of All Sorts
The first thing you should do is refused to notarize the document in OKC. If you have any doubts about the validity of the identification, do not hesitate to ask for another form of ID or to contact the issuing authority to verify the ID’s authenticity.
Document the Incidents
Next, make sure to document everything. Create a written record of what happened, including the date, time, and location of the incident. Be sure to include a description of the fake ID, as well as any other pertinent details, such as suspicious behavior on the part of the signer. This documentation will be important if you are ever called upon to testify in court about the incident.
A signatory in Oklahoma City working for notary public in OKC must remember to include the following details when compiling their incident report:
- The name and address of the signer
- A copy of the fake ID
- The date and time of the incident
- A brief description of what happened in
Report to the Authorities
Finally, report the incident to your state’s Attorney General’s office and/or the Department of Motor Vehicles. By reporting fake IDs, you as a notary public in Oklahoma can help prevent them from being used in future incidents of fraud or identity theft.
Request Another Form of Identification
If you suspect that the identification card is fake, your first step should be to request another form of identification from the signer. A valid driver’s license or passport would be ideal. If the signer is unable to provide another form of identification, you should not proceed with the notarization in OKC.
Contact the Issuing Authority
If the signer is able to provide another form of identification, contact the issuing authority of the identification card in question to verify its authenticity. The issuing authority will be able to tell you whether or not the ID is real.
Conclusion
Always remember to take care when verifying the identity of an individual in Oklahoma who comes to you to have something notarized in OKC. If you ever have a noteworthy reason to believe that the proof of identity might have been forged or otherwise counterfeited, then it is best to either ask for a secondary identification card or simply turn the client away.
While this probably will not happen to you all that often, it is much better to be safe and take great care when doing this than to end up having someone possibly hold you liable at a later point in time. If you ever have any questions about this matter, please consult your local laws or contact Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers at https://oklahomajudicialprocessservers.com for additional information.
