What should a notary do if they suspect fraud during a Remote Online Notary session?

When a notary suspects fraud during a Remote Online Notary session, the appropriate course of action is to immediately halt the session and report the suspicion. This approach is crucial for several reasons.

First, notaries are entrusted with the responsibility of preventing fraudulent activities in the notarization process. If there are signs of fraud, continuing the session could facilitate illegal actions and undermine the integrity of the notarial act. By halting the session, the notary removes any opportunity for the fraudulent activity to proceed.

Secondly, reporting the suspicion is essential for legal and regulatory compliance. Notaries are often required to follow certain protocols when they believe a document or the identity of the signer may not be valid. Reporting helps authorities to take the necessary steps to investigate and potentially prevent fraud from occurring on a larger scale.

Taking action against suspected fraud reflects the notary's commitment to upholding the law and protecting the interests of all parties involved in the notarization, including potential victims of fraud. This decisive behavior also reinforces public trust in the notarial process.

In contrast, ignoring the situation, merely asking for additional identification, or documenting the incident without action does not address the risk of fraud appropriately. Addressing the issue promptly ensures that the notary fulfills their duties