PSA for Property Owners in Los Angeles County: Fraud Alert Program
Working within the real estate field as a mobile notary signing agent, I have a professional network of colleagues who keep me in touch with most things real estate. Consequently, you should know that real estate fraud is on the rise. This means, that thieves are in force, stealing real property right out from under unsuspecting owners. Filing a fraudulent real estate document with the county recorders office is easier than you think. The county clerk does not evaluate the veracity of a document that is presented for filing. They do make sure there are no blank lines, and they do make sure the notary seal is properly placed and that the notary commission is not expired, but a criminal can have stolen a notary seal, or have one illegally made, or a notary may have been duped into notarizing a fraudulent document. On every California notarial acknowledgment, and jurat the following verbiage must be included: A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only...