I keep getting these text messages to my Notary number (google voice number) that I have just for the Notary work. The messages are from different numbers but all of them ask to set up a zoom call so that we can “discuss the items to be notarized and set up a time for the notarization”. I inform them all that if we need to complete the notarization online I use blank platform.
I don’t know why they insist on a zoom meeting to schedule and discuss. But each time they stop responding as soon as I tell them to contact me through the RON service I use.
If a client requests a Zoom consultation, I first explain that, as a California Notary Public, I cannot conduct the notarization remotely over Zoom since California requires the signer to appear in person.
If they still want a Zoom consultation to discuss the documents or the process, I’m happy to accommodate them. However, I charge a $25 consultation fee because I’m reserving time in my schedule. It’s simply an opportunity cost—setting aside time for a meeting means I may have to decline other work during that time.
SCAM! Don’t engage. Drop it like a hot potato. This has been going on for a while, and it is a way for them to access your data. Just delete the messages and move on.
That’s what is happening to me. As soon as I tell them to connect with my RON platform they try one more time to get me to do a zoom meeting and then they stop. Someone else above said to tell them the cost for the zoom meeting is $25 LOL.
I do not get requests for Zoom Calls. I get emails requesting availability and can they send the docs for review. I usually ignore them. The last one I responded by asking for their phone number, address and lender. Never heard back.
I have actually gotten an email like that as well once I think last year or so. Told him to put the file in a dropbox I have and never heard back. Didn’t think of it again. I get people who call to “ask some questions” about getting something notarized and I never hear back so I thought that was what was happening.
This is one of the many benefits of participating in ongoing notary training. The TNT (Tuesday Notary Titans) session talked about this in great detail in May, which is when I believe it started happening. They taught us how to deal with it and where to report it. I noticed that in the beginner notary FB groups, a number of notaries have handed over all their data to these scammers because they’re not in any reputable classes. And TNT is free!
I’ve had bogus requests like that for notary work and even wedding officiating. The first one I took the bait. Thankfully it was on my phone. Ther link goes nowhere and as soon as I realized it, I did a virus scan and the affected files we dealt with. The second time, I knew better and reply back that due to scammers I do not do any kind of introduction meetings of any kind through Zoom. Tell them that you only do phone calls for details. The second common scam is wanting to send you a large check upfront for beyond what your fee is and them asking you to divvy out money to other parties. Just don’t. At that point, delete the email and keep going.
Today I got the same message, but they actually took the time to use the Contact form on my website and even gave a street number. When I emailed back, thinking this was real, they responded that they wanted to meet on Google Meet first. It seems like such an invasion of privacy when they come in through your website. It’s a real time sucker.
The link they send will appear to be legitimate but will in fact be a link to a malicious website. You may not be able to detect a bad link because there are many ways to disguise a malicious character (0 or O) that is different than what you would find in a legitimate URL. When you go to the malicious site it is likely that there will be nothing there and it appears to be a bad link, but behind the scenes, your computer is being scanned for vulnerabilities and when found, a library of malicious attacks can be launched against your computer in less than a second. Once they have determined your vulnerabilities and installed malware, they can use your computer for many nefarious activities, as well as copying all of your information.
