What steps should be taken if there is suspicion of forgery?

Study for the Connecticut Notary Public Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your test!

When there is suspicion of forgery, the priority is to prevent a fraudulent notarization from occurring. The correct approach is to refuse to perform the notarization, clearly document the concerns in your notary journal and on any certificate if applicable, and report the matter to the appropriate authorities (such as law enforcement or the state’s notary division) as required by law. This protects the public and preserves the integrity of the notarization process. The other options undermine that protection: proceeding with the notarization despite doubts can enable fraud, asking for extra fees to verify identity is improper and misleading, and signing as a witness without notarizing doesn’t fulfill the notary’s official role.