Preventing Fraud and Misconduct Flashcards
7 cards from real NNA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Preventing Fraud and Misconduct flashcards as text
Which statement about a notary's journal as a fraud-prevention tool is most accurate?
Answer: It provides evidence of who appeared, what was signed and how identity was verified
A contemporaneous journal entry documents the notarization and helps prove or disprove fraud later.
A signer's ID has expired three years ago. Under most state rules and NNA best practice, what should the notary do?
Answer: Request a current ID or use another acceptable identification method
Most states require IDs to be current or recently issued, so a long-expired ID should not be relied on.
A person asks a notary to notarize a signature on a document written in a language the notary cannot read. What is the main fraud-related concern?
Answer: The notary may be unable to complete a proper certificate or detect irregularities, so many states require the certificate be in English and the notary communicate directly with the signer
The notary must be able to communicate directly with the signer and ensure the certificate wording is understandable and proper.
A notary is asked to notarize a document for her spouse. What is the best practice recommended by the NNA?
Answer: Decline, because a close family relationship creates a potential conflict of interest
Notarizing for close relatives risks partiality and a possible financial interest, so the NNA advises against it.
Which is an example of the notary engaging in the unauthorized practice of law?
Answer: Advising a signer which type of notarial certificate the document needs
Selecting the certificate type is a legal decision a non-attorney notary should leave to the signer or the receiving agency.
A signer arrives with a completed jurat and says she will swear to it later by phone. What is correct?
Answer: For a jurat, the signer must sign in the notary's presence and take the oath or affirmation at the time of the notarization
A jurat requires the signer to sign before the notary and swear or affirm to the truth of the document during the notarization.
A notary notices the document's date and terms seem to have been altered with correction fluid after the signer signed. What should the notary do?
Answer: Decline, or have the signer address the changes (such as initialing them) before notarizing if appropriate
Unexplained alterations are a fraud red flag, and the notary should not certify a document whose contents appear tampered with.