Fake Notarization and Apostille Scams via Email
How fraudulent online notarisation and apostille services collect fees for falsified or worthless document authentications that can cause serious legal and immigration consequences.
Part of: Fake Notarization & Apostille Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Apostilles and notarised documents are genuine legal requirements in many international legal, immigration, and business contexts. Legitimate online notarisation services exist and are growing in many jurisdictions, making the general concept of remote document authentication plausible and familiar.
Fake notarisation and apostille services exploit this familiarity by offering fast, cheap authentication via email. The documents they produce — if they produce anything — either lack legal validity or contain outright falsifications. When a victim submits a fake apostille in a legal or immigration context, the consequences can include application rejection, accusations of fraud, and serious legal jeopardy.
The fraud is especially harmful because victims often do not discover the problem until a critical deadline has passed or an application has been rejected on the basis of the fraudulent document.
How this scam works on email
An email or search result leads to a website offering notarisation, apostille certification, or legalisation services at low cost with quick turnaround. The website uses professional design and language that mimics legitimate government or legal services. The victim submits their documents digitally and pays a fee.
The service either produces a document with a fabricated seal and signature, produces nothing at all, or — in the most harmful cases — returns altered documents with fictitious certifications. The victim uses these documents in a legal, immigration, or business filing, only to have them identified as fraudulent.
Some operations exist purely to collect personal document data — passport scans, identity certificates — which are then used in identity fraud.
Common red flags
- Service found through a paid advertisement or email rather than through official government or bar association referral
- Apostille or notarisation offered entirely remotely without a licensed notary public in a state or country where physical presence is legally required
- Price significantly below the established market rate for legitimate professional notarisation
- No verifiable attorney, notary commission number, or government authorisation cited
- Service asks for original sensitive documents via email rather than directing to a verified secure upload
- Turnaround time claimed is faster than official apostille services in the relevant country
How to protect yourself
- Use only notaries verified through your state notary public database or equivalent official registry
- Apostilles must be issued by the designated authority in each country — in the US, this is the Secretary of State office for the relevant state
- Verify any online notarisation service against your state's list of authorised remote online notarisation providers
- Never submit original identity documents to an email address — use in-person or secure verified platforms only
- Seek guidance from an immigration attorney or legal aid service if you need documents authenticated for an immigration application
How to report it
- Report to the state notary regulating authority if a fake notary commission or seal was used
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Report to the state secretary of state office if a fraudulent apostille seal was produced
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a legitimate apostille online?
Some US states permit online requests for apostilles through official Secretary of State portals. Any apostille must be issued by the official designated authority — not through a third-party website. Check your state government's official website for authorised procedures.