The Audrain County Recorder of Deeds Office is introducing a new fraud prevention tool designed to protect notaries and the community from the growing threat of notary-related document fraud, according to a news release. The Notary Fraud Alert (NFA) program is a free, easy-to-use service that allows notaries to monitor activity under their name and quickly detect signs of misuse.

"As your Audrain County Recorder of Deeds, my top priority is preserving the integrity of our public records," Teresa Allen said in the release. "This new alert system empowers notaries with information so they can catch fraudulent activity early and in doing so, helps safeguard the entire community from property fraud and related scams."

Once enrolled, notaries can choose to receive daily, weekly, or monthly alerts whenever a document is recorded in Audrain County that includes their name as the notary. Each alert includes the document number, type, and parties involved, making it easy to identify suspicious filings at a glance.

Notary fraud can occur when someone forges a signature, misuses a notary seal, or records a document without the required presence or authorization. These actions can lead to property theft, financial loss, and legal complications. With this alert system, notaries are no longer in the dark and they are part of the frontline defense.

This service is offered at no cost and is part of ongoing commitment to supporting local notaries while strengthening trust in public recordkeeping systems.

To sign up for Notary Fraud Alert or learn more, visit Audrain County Recorder of Deeds website at audraincounty.org/recorder.

If one suspects being a victim of notary fraud, consider reaching out to law enforcement or legal counsel for further action.