Legal Question in Criminal Law in Illinois

identity theft/fraud using notary seal

Until it's exp date of '07, I was a notary in IL. I used to work for a title co. where I used my seal sev. times a day. In '05, I left the title co and came to work at a model home. I brought my seal to work once or twice. It was left on my desk, which is open to the pub. I rarely used/looked for it, and didn't notice it missing. I eventually talked myself into believing that I must have taken it home and misplaced it (as again, I rarely used it). Ystdy, my prev. emp. called to tell me an atty. had called to let them know that I was ''under investig.'' for notary fraud. I spoke to the atty. who faxed to me sev. sig/notary pgs of docs that had my seal, but was clearly not my signature. Ultimately, a fraudulent trans. was made using my seal which garnered the thief $75k in the form of a HE loan or 2nd mtg in 2006 on a property they either didn't own, or on which the thief had no perm. to take a loan. There was a QC involved, so poss. she deeded the prop. to herself first. Im waiting for the actual docs so I can see what happened. I have the name/add. of the person that took out the loan and (assumingly) used my seal, as she used her real nm. The seal was stolen from one city/county & used in another. What can I do to prot. myself.


Asked on 5/17/08, 1:36 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
George Zuganelis Zuganelis & Zuganelis, Attorneys at Law, P.C.

Re: identity theft/fraud using notary seal

Since you didn't list your zip code I don't know what county you're in. However, in Cook County there is a procedure in the Circuit Court for protecting yourself from identity theft. Check this out in the county your in by calling the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

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Answered on 5/17/08, 3:45 pm


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