Hawaii Notary Public Practice Exam 2026 – All-In-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

When a notary suspects fraudulent activity during the notarization process, the appropriate course of action is to refuse to notarize and report the incident. This is crucial because a notary’s primary responsibility is to ensure the validity and authenticity of the documents being notarized. If there are indicators of fraud, completing the notarization could facilitate illegal activities or create legal consequences for both the notary and the parties involved.

By refusing to notarize, the notary protects themselves and upholds their duty to prevent fraud. Reporting the incident is equally important as it can help authorities investigate potential wrongdoing, thereby contributing to the integrity of the notarization process and protecting others from similar fraudulent attempts.

Choosing to ask for more documentation does not address the underlying suspicion of fraud and may inadvertently enable the fraudulent act. Simply proceeding with the notarization disregards the notary's duty to ensure the legitimacy of the transaction. Contacting law enforcement immediately may not be the first step in this scenario, as it’s more appropriate for the notary to first refuse the notarization and assess the situation before involving law enforcement.