Gazette file photo Houghton County Clerk/Register of Deeds Jennifer Kelly is seen in an April 2025 meeting. Kelly has announced an effort to fight notary fraud.

HOUVHGTON — Houghton County Clerk/Register of Deeds Jennifer Kelly has launched a fraud prevention tool designed to protect notaries and the community from the growing threat of notary-related document fraud. The Notary Fraud Alert (NFA) program is a free, easy-to-use service that allows notaries to monitor activity under their name and quickly detect signs of misuse.

In a press release, Kelly said, “As County Clerk/Register of Deeds, my top priority is preserving the integrity of our public records. This new alert system empowers notaries with information–so they can catch fraudulent activity early–and in doing so, helps safeguard the entire community from property fraud and related scams.”

Kelly explained that once enrolled notaries can choose to receive daily, weekly, or monthly alerts whenever a document is recorded in Houghton County that includes their name as the notary. Each alert includes the document number, type, and parties involved, making it easy to identify suspicious filings at a glance.

Kelly said ,notary fraud can occur when someone forges a signature, misuses a notary seal, or records a document without the required presence or authorization. “These actions can lead to property theft, financial loss, and legal complications. With this alert system, notaries are no longer in the dark–they are part of the frontline defense” Kelly explained in the release.”

The County Clerk said the new service is offered at no cost and is part of the Clerk’s “ongoing commitment to supporting our local notaries while strengthening trust in our public recordkeeping systems.”

To sign up for Notary Fraud Alert or learn more, visit Houghtoncounty.net or NotaryFraudAlert.com.

If you suspect you are a victim of notary fraud, consider reaching out to law enforcement or legal counsel for further action.