Fake Notarization and Apostille Scams in the UK
How fraudulent UK notarisation and apostille services target individuals and businesses needing documents authenticated for international legal, immigration, and commercial purposes.
Part of: Fake Notarization & Apostille Scams
Last reviewed: 9 June 2026
The United Kingdom has specific apostille and notarisation requirements that differ from those of other common law countries. All UK apostilles must be issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London — there is no state-by-state variation as in the US. This relatively centralised system might seem to reduce the fraud opportunity, but fake services exploit the fact that many applicants are unfamiliar with the official process and seek help online.
Post-Brexit document authentication requirements for UK individuals and businesses dealing with EU countries have increased demand for apostille services, creating additional opportunities for fraudulent operators to position themselves as specialists in this newly complex area.
Fake UK notarisation services are particularly dangerous for immigration applicants, where document authentication is essential and errors in the authentication process can cause application failures with serious consequences.
How this scam works on the UK
A search for UK apostille or notarisation services returns a paid advertisement or well-ranked website offering fast, low-cost document legalisation. The site uses professional design and references the FCDO and UK legal requirements in language that sounds knowledgeable. The applicant submits documents digitally and pays a fee.
The service produces a document with a fabricated FCDO apostille stamp and signature, or processes a genuine notarisation but at a price representing significant overcharging with misleading descriptions of what is included. In some cases the service collects identity documents through the submission process and uses them for identity fraud.
When the document is presented in an official context — an immigration application, a foreign business registration, a court proceeding — the fake apostille is identified, the document is rejected, and remediation must begin at additional cost and with time already lost.
Common red flags
- Service advertising fast UK apostilles found through a paid search advertisement or email rather than through the official FCDO website
- Apostille offered for a much lower fee than the FCDO's published official rate
- Service claims to be able to authenticate documents without the notary verification step required by the FCDO process
- Company has no verifiable solicitor or notary registration and no Law Society membership
- Original sensitive documents requested via email submission rather than in-person or through a secure verified portal
- Turnaround time claimed is shorter than the FCDO's published processing times
How to protect yourself
- Obtain UK apostilles only through the FCDO's official Legalisation Office — check gov.uk for the current process
- Notarisation in the UK must be performed by a regulated notary public — verify through the Notaries Society or Faculty Office directory
- Never submit original identity documents digitally to an unverified service
- Be cautious of any service that does not require an in-person or fully verified remote notarisation before issuing an apostille
- Seek guidance from a solicitor or regulated notary for any document authentication needed for immigration or international legal purposes
How to report it
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk
- Report to the FCDO's Legalisation Office if a fraudulent apostille was issued using official-looking FCDO materials
- Report to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or the Notaries Society if a regulated professional's identity was misused
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a legitimate apostille for a UK document?
UK apostilles are issued by the FCDO's Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. Applications can be made online through the official GOV.UK legalisation service. Documents usually require notarisation by a regulated notary public before apostille application.