The work landscape is changing due to Covid and many are looking at a notary gig.
As more people look at returning to the workplace, many have realized they don’t want to go back. They’ve found the flexibility of working from home (probably why they are wanted back in the workplace) and found they prefer it.
Read MoreAs the world quickly pivots to online notaries, how does this affect traditional Wet Signings?
Called wet signings by many banks, it means the notary and signer(s) sign must both be present, and must use a pen.
This has origins all the way back to the ancient middle east. They were literally wet signings. As they wrote on clay tablets, then they had to dry them.
We’ve had extensive talks about creating an article of states. But, there are too many rules that are moving too quickly, it would be difficult to disseminate the information accurately.
It would be advisable to find the new or temporary rules for your state.
So, why the article will focus on the present and future, you need to confirm any specifics where you perform signings.
You’ve seen the media. We’ve seen the media. But, does the hype reflect reality?
Not quite yet.
While online notaries will be used more frequently in the future, that does not mean there won’t be a rocky road to get us there.
There are a ton of rules in recent months. Most of these are only temporary, but could set the stage for adoption of those rules.
The problem is that the hastily written rules are not congruent. Most require a lot of red tape, which needs to be made on a state by state by state basis.
The more you look into it, the more confusing it gets.
While a very small portion of loans have been done remotely, in person wet signings are still required by most lenders and underwriters.
In other words, the mortgage world is not rushing into things.
While you think that might make them go crazy, the fact is they face the same maze of regulations (especially temporary ones) that we do as notaries or signing companies.
It might be better to say they are dipping their toes in the water.
Realize the most prominent lenders in the country might have tens of thousands of employees working for them.
The fact is, at the end of the day, they have to pull all of those people off of the floor, train them for 50 different states (several are similar), some only temporary.
Monoliths take a long time to move.
We have a friend that works at one of the most prominent lenders in the nation. Between COVID, working from home, and the difficulty in enabling online closings, RON has fallen on the list of priorities for many lenders.
At the end of the day, it is unlikely all signings will be remote.
We already know about attorney states and a number of other signings. But, it is possible, that this will drive many of the corner stores that offer individuals notary services to stop.
Unless states raise the rates for these types of signings, it is unlikely they’ll be able to justify the cost to them.
The choice then will be an online notary, or a mobile one. Technology could be difficult for some signers. At the end of the day, if you like your computer, and don’t need a new one, what would you do?
And what about the people, who do exist, that do not have easy access to the internet?
Who doesn’t love bureaucracy?
We’ve seen several states adopt very similar statutes. But, we still might see the wild west unfold.
Right now, states need money. Badly. And they will need it for years to come.
But, where are they going to get it?
It won’t erase any deficits, but any money will do right now for states. It is probably insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it still is money for a state that is broke.
We are quite likely to see states adopt rules, some designed to keep the money in that state.
For example, let’s say a state called New Iowa, decides they want a bigger share of the pie. So New Iowa decided they will allow remote signings, as long as the notary is located in that state.
But now, New Vermont thinks they are being hoodwinked. They have notaries, too. And New Iowa is taking away work from them, and tax revenues, from the people of New Vermont.
See how easily this could happen?
Right now everyone’s world is still out of whack. The biggest holiday on our calendar approaches. And millions of us will forgo cookouts and fireworks because of it.
But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It may be a new world, but it will be our new world. The industry will change, but it is always changing. The sun will still rise in the east and set in the west.
We either embrace change and prepare, or we get left in the dust.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
For those unaware, changes to identification are coming.
Real ID goes into full effect on October 1st.
But, does it, or should it, affect a notary and the future of signings, even if those signings are only of a certain type or types.
Real ID is a new standard of identification that will be required to do certain things, such as flying.
Done through your existing driver’s license, the applying person’s identity has to be proven by multiple other sources of identity. It is not required, but as mentioned above, those without Real ID will be limited in things like flying.
The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards. The purposes covered by the Act are: accessing Federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.
DHS
Again, it is not required, and some states are resisting. But, if you want or need more information, check out their FAQ’s.
It is hard to guess how, or even if Real ID will have an affect on the average notary.
Our guess is not.
We’ll say it again. Real ID is not required. So some signers will not have them. But, in person, be it static or mobile, verifying identification is not only possible, it is expected.
There are also groups, like immigrants, who have arrived and need notary services. Many of them are preyed upon by notarios, and should have access to notary services that are professional, properly done and promptly. Or as we’ve liked to call them since we wrote the previous sentence, The Three Peas.
Could it, Should It?
If we are to notarize documents remotely, should it be required all signers have the golden standard for identification? We’ve already been bombarded with how new technology will do this, but is that going to work all the time, or is it smoke and mirrors?
So, why not use a system that is in place, and has already been available in most states for the last couple of years?
If warranted, this is a national standard that can be rolled out efficiently. It is also one that the federal government believes is the best way of identification for access to sensitive sites and information.
One could easily say that notaries are controlled by the state, and should not be subject to federal standards or policy. And, they would have a valid point.
But, another valid point would be that states are only adopting a federal standard, which will help integration between states as the industry evolves at a frenetic pace.
We talk about it all the time. Notaries instill trust into a signing. They give a signing legitimacy.
With or without Real ID, professional notaries are still going to instill trust. Many of the most important times in a person’s life, the notary makes it legitimate, because the signers trust they will do the job to the highest standards.
Would a Real ID requirement instill more trust in a notarization? Or would it be an onerous burden that prevents people from getting the proper notary services they need?
Or would it differ based on the type of signing?
More trust is always tremendous for a notary. The question is the correct path forward as the industry evolves. New technology is arriving, if not already here.
But, which technology will help instill the most trust? That is the most important question.
This is the fourth installment on remote online notarization and the things around it. You can find other articles below:
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
Welcome 2020!
We wanted to find out if there were any issues notaries need to pay attention to for the new year, and while we feel energized by the new year, we did come across one particular issue, that while not a huge issue, is something we might want to keep our eyes on.
Fortunately, it simply has to do with normal human behavior, and making sure we check our work. Easy Peasy.
We’ve all done it.
First week or two of the new year and we sign something with last year’s date. For some, a bit longer.
We are sure for many of you, it has happened at the table, so this is nothing new. That’s why it’s just a simple check.
For you, probably not. But for other signers, it could be more of an issue than in other years.
Some linguists have warned that people who sign documents, or checks and the like, that they need to pay more attention early this year to the date they sign.
According to them, 2020 is likely to be written as just 20 in more instances than most years. They say that because the year is essentially 20 twice in a row, people are more likely to look at it and think it is correct when they are writing.
So, they advise that people like notaries double check early this year to ensure document integrity.
Some law enforcement agencies around the country have sent out alerts as well.
They are warning that because it is 2020, it could be easier to forge, or change documents if any error in the original writing of 2020 should occur.
And no one wants to mess with the possibility their title or their mortgage are derided by this potential problem.
So, go on out and start your year off right, and keep in mind that 2020 should always explicitly be written out as 2020.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
Is the future of remote online notarizations sitting at our own desk, or sitting at someone else’s desk?
Will the future bring us more freedom with the ability to work out of our home offices more often? Or, is it in a bunch of cubicles in the very type of office we’ve worked so hard to move on from?
They are starkly different scenarios. And it is something we all need to pay attention to.
This is part 3 of a series on remote online notarization, or RON, and the mobile notary.
Technology is evolving on working from home. A webcam and a wish. All the comfort and efficiency of your own office, allowing you to streamline your operation a bit by performing certain signings from home.
These services might be run by corporations, trying to use you as an employee, online services essentially making notaries like uber drivers, or by a signing services such as ourselves using the same or similar ways we do business together now.
Make no mistake. Without major changes in new regulations, there will be a point when the only way to do certain signings will be with RON. There will also be certain signings that are done in person. It’s a new reality we have to adapt to.
Some of the newer companies on the scene envision a future where offices are packed full of notaries, making signings an assembly line operation. One where signings are more like a blur than the attention you give signings now.
They see a world where notaries are plain old employees, and not the sub-contractors or businesses they are today. A world where a couple of large corporations control the vast majority of the industry.
They would put you back into a box working a rote nine to five.
A rote nine to five.
Change can be scary, but it does not need to be.
We are writing this because we want you to be informed and be ready. To plan for multiple contingencies, and prepare for each. This is how businesses grow.
Some questions you may want to ask yourself:
So, will remote signings be good for the mobile notary?
The future is what we make of it.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
The six hundred pound gorilla in the room is now the 6,000 pound gorilla. RON, or remote online notarization is here.
And it is about time we open our blinders and start talking about it.
This is the first in a series of how RON, or remote online notarization, will affect the mobile notary business, both ours and yours.
Remote Online Notarization laws have spread like wildfire across the country this year. What was just a couple of states last year has turned into an avalanche this year.
The money behind the effort is just too much. The banks and venture capitalists just have too much to gain. And since no collective voice for notaries has stepped up and joined the fray to protect current notaries, most of the bills have gone unopposed through state senates and governor’s offices.
Unfortunately, RON has showed up at your house, taken your guest bedroom, and now you are going to have to live with him.
No.
Hell no.
But, you must understand, changes are coming and you must prepare your business for them, just like we must prepare our business for it.
We either adapt with the times, or we get passed by. We must embrace change, while working to take advantage of it.
Now, there are still a lot of things that can mean for your business. Are there going to be as many mobile signings? Probably not in the longer term. Will you be able to supplement mobile signings with remote online notarizations? How about new types of signings? That is something you are going to need to figure out for your business.
Last year we did signings with over 40,000 notaries. 40,000 highly qualified notaries we still want to do business with.
As you all know, we are not some fly by night operation. Many of you we have been working with for years, even if it is just a few signings per year. Others in busier areas have signed a lot of documents with us, signings we are determined to keep.
When the crash happened in 2007 and most everyone took a beating, we grew. When there has been a smaller downturn in the market the last couple of years, we grew. And with remote online notarization now standing ahead of us, with your help, we will continue to grow, and do our best to protect the interests of the tens of thousands of notaries we do business with.
But, just like you and your business, our businesses together are going to find a new win-win. We have no doubt that we will, and are working on it every. single. day.
Did we mention this is going to be a multi part series, where we go into more details on specific areas?
But, plan ahead. Make a three month plan for your business, make a year long plan for your business and make a three year plan for your business.
Take variations of RON into account, and see how it affects your business. Then ask yourself how you are going to address it.
Remote online notarization may seem like a new world, and it is, but that does not mean that we cannot prosper that new world.
Make a plan for your business and start working towards it. Leverage your industry contacts to expand or find new opportunities.
The issue is not what is wrong with RON, but how we can use remote online notarization to our advantage.
Different types of businesses run on different financial models, some of it by necessity, some by choice, even if the business owner does not realize they are making that choice.
A fundamental question any mobile notary or online notary should ask is if there is a need for their business to have a bank roll, aka savings.
A business should set a goal to have six months of operating expenses banked in case of a new need, or to cover operations if there is a short blip in the market.
This gives the owner of the business a lot of flexibility. Not just in operations, but in marketing as well, whether it is low tech or high tech.
A business that has a bank roll, is a business that is ready to pounce when an opportunity rears its head.
Your point?
We fully understand there are businesses that live pay period to pay period, just like there are people who live paycheck to paycheck.
Remember, this is a goal, not a rule written in snow stone (Sorry, I’ve been binging Game of Thrones).
Also, don’t forget what got you here in the first place. You decided you wanted to become a mobile notary and you did what you had to do to make it happen.
Look at your company’s bank roll the same way, and you will find a way.
Yes, taxes are just part of doing business. Sometimes borrowing money and having to pay interest on it is just part of doing business as well.
Look realistically, you are a mobile notary, which means you are an entrepreneur, and entrepreneurs take risks. You understand what we are saying.
But, the borrower is always one step behind.
The borrower pays higher than market prices because of interest. The tax write off for costs does not change, so the borrower always comes out behind of where they could be.
Please note, we are not saying to never borrow. Sometimes, it is a risk that pays for itself over and over again. There are a lot of great businesses that borrowed money.
What we are saying, is that your business having a bank roll can help you come out farther ahead more consistently. And not having to pay that interest (or as much of it) means you put more money directly into your business.
There is no denying that having a bank roll gives a company much greater flexibility, both when the market is up, as well as when it is down.
If the market surges, a business is ready, because the salary to pay that new employee is already in the coffers.
On the flip side, if the market moves to a slower period, it allows a business to keep employees on for longer. This gives you more time to either create new business, or survive what ends up being a short downturn in the market.
Having more flexibility in operations than your competitors is a massive advantage. And not having to borrow, means you never have to put company equity on the line.
We recently spoke about finding opportunities for your business.
So, what if you find one?
You have to be ready to jump quickly. By the time financing for the opportunity comes through, it may be too late.
But, what if your company has the money on hand to move rapidly?
What was the word we used earlier? Flexibility.
It’s a beautiful thing.
This is not something that has to be completed today. Sure, it would be cooler if it was, but we have to address our business realistically.
It is a goal, plain and simple.
You are not going to be tomorrow where you are today. Same goes for next week, next month, or next year.
And it would be more than nice if you are more flexible then, than you are today.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
We’ve gone over some hinky signings in the past, like the fiasco in Texas. But, what about another type that seems like you are doing good for the public.
Is is worth notarizing documents for political campaigns or movements?
This is the most important thing we must do with our business. We have to protect ourselves and our business, so we can continue to earn income and grow into the future.
And the easiest way to do that is to stay away from controversial signings. Anything that involves politics is included in that.
Let’s take a look at a recent case. Organizers in Missouri are trying to get an initiative on the ballot for this November’s elections. The law says the person circulating the petition must oversee every signature, and then have a notary sign off on each page.
But, what happens when that circulator/organizer breaks the rules? And what kind of legal liability does that open you up to?
I am going to link to an article that does not mention the notary’s name, so please take a look at what can go wrong with political signings.
How many people are making posts or tweets that come back to bite them, even years later?
The truth is more and more people are starting to check out who they are doing business with. It’s not just celebrities or politicians, it is spreading to average Americans, and while concerning, it is completely legal.
And when they find someone whose viewpoints they don’t like?
Realize you don’t just represent yourself online, you represent your business. And it is best done by attracting the widest audience, while providing excellent customer service and on time jobs.
Do you think your small business can survive a lawsuit against a large political organization, or a state’s attorney general’s office?
We are not even talking right or wrong here, we are talking about the costs themselves of having to defend the business. It does not matter if you are right, if you don’t have the resources to see it though. It is a sad, but true, reality.
The overwhelming actuality for the vast majority of mobile notaries, is that a big lawsuit will force the company into bankruptcy. So this needs to be taken into account before you accept certain signings.
Remember, the business always comes first.
Even if you are the only person who works for that business, you have still created something larger than yourself. And that is something you should be proud of and eager to defend.
This answer may differ between notaries, and it may even differ between jobs.
This is a question you really need to think about.
For some, the risk versus the reward just does not make sense. But, there are also notaries who believe in causes. But, you cannot let your personal feelings for a cause to become more important than the business. Remember, the business comes first. Always.
So, if you do accept a political related signing, make sure that you can verify the providence of all of the information you sign off on. And maybe consult a lawyer or your state’s Department of Commerce about the laws the client has to meet to make the document you are notarizing legal.
And if you have any questions about what you are about to sign, don’t touch it with a ten foot pole.
Here is another great article about whether or not notaries should be involved with our election process.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
We all love the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) aspects of some parts of the internet and apps. But, what about when you don’t get what you expect? What about when what you click on is the old Trojan Horse?
Last month we talked about phishing and how it can affect your business. Today we are going to talk about another devious method of infecting your computer, one that might even turn your computing device into a bot (and not the cool type like R2D2). And that negatively affects your business.
Quite a few years ago now, when someone “hacked your pc” it usually meant the computer ran like crud, if at all, as the intention was to screw with you. But, current malware designers are smarter. They hide in plain sight. The truth is, that nowadays, most people have malware and do not even know it. Even anti virus software is estimated to miss up to 70% of malware infections.
According to reputable sources, between one third and one half of all malware is now delivered through online advertisements.
What!!!!
The worst part is, they aren’t always at the place where the ad goes, they are just as likely to be embedded in the ad.
You see, some wise hacker found out how to embed malicious code into some images, which, fortunately, has been mostly dealt with. But, too often ads are accompanied by scripts. And those scripts can have a lot of things in them, some good and some bad. And because many advertising networks let companies use scripts to either serve or accompany the advertisement, it opens up the door for the script writer to do some of the bad things.
If you look at online advertising companies, they will tell you they do not allow these things. But, their systems are mostly automated, with minimal human intervention. Heck, the hacker might even run some clean ads first, and then sneak in some dodgy ones once the company trusts them. This has gone beyond simple ads, as even some more reputable websites have tried it in recent months, as well as app developers.
There are still some older style malware that take your contact list, put on a keylogger to grab passwords, and many of the other things that hackers have always done.
But, the biggest aim in 2018 is to turn your computer into a bot, or a zombie. A zombie is a bot that is asleep most of the time, and only turns on when needed. It makes this type of bot harder to find.
The biggest thing for bots to do lately is to mine bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies. They use your computer, and thousands of others to make a giant bitcoin farm. And your computer (or phone) constantly works for them, wasting power on your end, and making the malware maker money. Unfortunately, even some businesses you would consider reputable have joined the game. Fortunately, most of them were outed earlier this year and have ceased the practice. (We have decided not to grow the angry mob here, as the companies have been confirmed to have fixed the issue)
If they are not mining bitcoin, they are usually waiting for instructions on what to do. When you hear about websites being taken down by attacks like DOS or DDOS (distributed denial of service), these are usually done with bots. Your computer sits silently until the time comes. And when it gets its instructions, it and thousands of others get to work, attacking the target.
And when they are done, they go back into hiding.
These are just a couple of examples of what these types of attacks do.
The bad ads are mainly images, though it can be text ads in some cases. Many stick out, and should be avoided. So let’s take a look at some of the categories of ads we probably don’t want to get anywhere near.
If you really want one of the things in these ads, go find them directly. An even better idea is to keep them from your computer all together.
As more and more ads invade the internet, ad blockers for your web browser have become more and more popular. They make the web a nicer place to look at and keep a lot of potentially malicious code at bay.
This has become a controversy recently, with some sites blocking access to people with ad blockers. It usually does not last long, as the site’s traffic takes a nose dive, then the value of the ads for those who do see them lessens. But, the nice thing with the ad blockers, is if you have a site you like and trust, you can click a button and allow that site to show you ads.
A couple of ways people keep ads off their computers:
I gave you websites for these, but you would actually download them from the extensions area inside of your browser. The add-ons above are only some options, you have other things like Ghostery and the EFF Privacy Badger that also help in this regard.
Today we took another small look at securing your notary business. Again, it is nothing too hard, just using some common sense with what you click.
View every ad with a bit of skepticism. Don’t let an ad scare you into a rash decision. Don’t go near ads that sell skeevy stuff. And if you want to go a step further, use browser tools to help you protect your privacy and security while online.
Because if you are going to mine bitcoin, better to do it for yourself than for somebody else.
Don’t Miss the Rest of the Series:
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
Phishing has been in the news again lately and phishing is bad for business.
But, what is phishing and how does it affect the mobile notary, their business, their business partners, even their personal lives, families and friends? This is so very important because it can affect those who do business with you, and can lead to a messy situation.
Phishing is when a scammer uses fraudulent emails or texts, or copycat websites to get you to share valuable personal information – such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, or your login IDs and passwords. Scammers use your information to steal your money or your identity or both.
– – Federal Trade Commission
When done well, phishing looks just like any other email or text. That is where they get you.
But, reputable institutions will never contact you and ask for personal information. Let’s say that again. Reputable institutions will never contact you and ask for personal information.
The thing is, the email may appear to come from your bank, someone else you do business with, a friend or even a family member. This is called “spoofing” and we’ll try to look more at that a bit later. If you are a big time techie, you can spot these from a mile away, but the plain fact is most people cannot.
Don’t even be surprised if the email contains the company logo or even uses the exact same email template. The phishers have gotten very good at this over the years.
One of the earliest rules of the internet is to not click on links you know nothing about. When you run a business, that is very difficult, but it is something you need to keep in mind when you look at every email.
I’m going to use example.com, as an example. Let’s make it simple and just say they are a bank.
One of the most popular ways phishers are successful is by sending you an email telling you that you need to reset your password. You then click on a link, but that link does not bring you to example.com. So when you reset the password, you are actually giving the phisher your password to example.com. Then they transfer all the money overseas and you know how the rest goes.
So, how do they do it?
Look at the url of the page you are on. Are you on example.com or exxample.com? Maybe there is a foreign character in there that should not be?
Well, the good part is you should not have to worry about that. If you get an email from example.com, don’t click the link. Just use your browser and go to example.com. Then you know you are in the right spot. And if they don’t ask you to update your password, then you know that someone just tried to phish you.
I would go a step further than our definition above says and say that phishing can be done by phone as well.
The process is the same. They call you, pretend to be someone they are not, and ask for your user credentials or other Non Public Information. They might even send you to a fake website to verify they are who they say they are (they aren’t).
Again, reputable institutions are not going to call you and ask for personal information. You call them, never the other way around.
I’ll admit, there is a lot of it, and it is hard to keep track of. But, if the attempt came from my bank or another business partner, I would report it immediately.
Banks have had to beef up their anti-fraud departments. And they take their job seriously. So give them a call. They may already know about it, or it is possible they could ask you to send them some technical information from the email. If they do that, they will give you proper instructions.
If the email came from a business partner, let them know. Most likely, their email contact list was hacked or stolen. And that is why you got the email that appears to be from them.
But, the thing is, if you got it, so did everyone else on their contact list. So do them a solid and let them know, so they can let others know that might not be as savvy as you.
Phishing is not just a business thing. If affects people and their personal lives as well.
Phishers don’t care if you are a person or a business. They just want Non Public Information from you so they can steal your identity, steal your contact lists, steal your money, and just about anything they can do to drain your resources and get access to people around you.
And just who is in your personal contacts list? Maybe your mom, brothers and sisters, cousins, friends, acquaintances and more.
You want to protect yourself personally the same way you protect your business.
The fact is, no system is perfect. But there are some common sense rules you can make to drastically reduce the chances of you falling prey to a phisher.
I hope this helped clear up what phishing is and some common sense things you can do to prevent it. The easiest way is to bypass the links, or the phone call, and initiate contact directly.
That way you know who you are dealing with.
Continued Reading:
Part 2: What you click is not what you see.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
