By Lisa A. Tyler
National Escrow Administrator

The law firm of Scott B. Umstead, a title policy issuing agent of Chicago Title Insurance Company in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was recently the target of a fraudster attempting to divert the seller proceeds. Fortunately one of Scott's employees, Shellie Mire, Real Estate Paralegal, recognized the signs of the fraud and the firm did not fall victim. Scott was very impressed by Shellie's actions. Read "POT o' gold" to see what he had to say.

Fraudsters never give up on their efforts to find an unsuspecting escrow officer to fall for their scheme, especially during this past 2016 holiday season. Fortunately, settlement agents across the country remembered what they had learned in previous editions of Fraud Insights and stopped the fraudsters in their tracks. Read "HOLIDAY cash" to discover how one clever escrow officer detected fraudulent wire instructions.

Most state notary laws do not specify a notary journal is required. Read "KEEP a journal of notarial acts" to discover why every commissioned notary should maintain a journal, even if it is not required under the laws of their state.

Be sure to answer the monthly notary question to make certain you understand the tips shared to increase your "notary know how!"

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