Placing Safety First: Protecting Yourself At A Loan Signing library/nna...back out to your car. While doing so, you should: 1.Continue to LISTEN! 2.Don’t procrastinate. Gather your

© 2019 National Notary Association

PhotoHere Dushunna Scott

Owner, Lady Scott Enterprises, LLC

Placing Safety First:Protecting Yourself At A Loan Signing


Placing Safety First: Protecting Yourself at a Loan SigningOwner, Lady Scott Enterprises, LLC• LSE officially a business in February

2016• Notary Signing Agent since 2012• Business office located in Richmond,

VA since December 2017• NSA• Electronic Notary Public (Notarize)• Mobile Notary• Fieldprint Vendor• Virtual Assistant• C.A.M. & Friends

•So What’s New?• Commercial Mail Receiving Agency

(AnyTime Mailbox)• Personal Concierge Services• Certified Travel Agent• LSE Training School

PRESENTED BY Dushunna F. ScottOwner, Lady Scott Enterprises


Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

• Began Career in Criminal Justice in 2008• Jail Officer (2008-2010)

• Housing Unit Security• Records & Classification• Transportation

• Master Deputy Sheriff (2010-2018)• General Instructor• Field Training Officer• Courtroom/Judicial Security• Civil Process• Transportation/Extraditions• Central Control Operator• Unit Accreditation Liaison


Criminal Justice Instructor

• Amelia-Nottoway Technical Center • Aug. 2018-present

• www.amelianottowaytechcenter.com

• FBI Citizens Academy


http://www.amelianottowaytechcenter.com/


Disclaimer

This presentation or any information herein is not being made on behalf of any law enforcement entity or agency. This course

and its materials are for informational purposes only and

should not be misconstrued as legal advice.



Objectives

•Induce and/or enhance a safety mindset while at loan signings.

•Give you safety tips that you can use before, during, and after loan signings and Mobile Notary appointments.



Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Opportunity Means Incident Occurs



Question???

When should the NSA/Mobile Notary become safety conscious?

1. Before the signing?

2. During the signing?

3. After the signing?



ANSWER

•NSA/Mobile Notary should BECOME safety conscious BEFORE the signing but should remain safety conscious throughout the entire process!!!



What’s Your Mindset?

•Write down 3 goals for your Notary business that you will accomplish in 2019.

•Write down 3 places you will travel to in 2019.•Write down 3 personal goals you will achieve in 2019.



You Have A PURPOSE!

You have 2 minutes:• Introduce yourself

to someone.• Tell them what you

wrote down.



In order for your mindset to be intact, you must know your purpose!



•Safety consciousness should begin at the time you receive the order confirmation! You want to collect as much information as possible before the actual signing!

•Order confirmation is packed with information! It gives you:

•Date and time

•Borrower’s name

•Address

•Type of signing to be conducted



Date and Time of Signing

•Early morning vs. evening or night.

•Monday vs. Friday.



Borrower’s Name

•Do you recognize the name? (News, social media, etc.)

•Single party or dual signing?



Borrower’s Address

•What type of neighborhood?

•What part of town?

•High crime area or little to no crime?



Type of Signing •Refinance vs. HELOC•Loan Application vs. Refinance•Will •Power of Attorney•I-9 verification

How long will it take me to complete this notarization/loan signing?



Do Some Research

•States may have online databases that allow you to look up public information about individuals. Find out what online databases your state has.



Sex Offender Registry

•Is the person(s) a sex offender?

•Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry

•sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/



Online Judicial System Database

• Does the person have a criminal background?

• Virginia’s Judicial System (online)

• http://www.courts.state.va.us/caseinfo/

•Can search General District Court and Circuit Court for most counties.

•Shows current and past charges and their dispositions.

•Even shows traffic violations.



Inmate Locators

•Has the borrower(s) been incarcerated before?

•Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator

•Gives current and previous incarceration history

•https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/

•State Department of Corrections Website


https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/


Other Sources

•Google• Google is a great resource that

has a wealth of information. However, Google may or may not be a reliable source.

•Newspaper

•Word of Mouth

•Social Media• Facebook• Instagram• Twitter• LinkedIn• SnapChat



Now that you know what you know…

• Now, YOU have to weigh the risks and determine if this signing is right for YOU!

• Keep in mind:

• Conducting the “background check” is for your information and shouldn’t be taken out of context. It is NOT to be discussed with the borrower(s), Title/Signing Company.

• Example: Assault and battery.

• People may have a checkered past. Many people make dumb mistakes in their youth. Could be totally different today. However, the opposite could also be true. This information is for you to keep in the back of your mind so that you will know who/what you’re dealing with. After all, you are going into their home!



Making the Call• So, you’ve done your “background check” and now it’s time to call the

borrower(s) to confirm the appointment.

• What type of information are we gathering during the call?

• Is the tone of the call aggressive or friendly?

• Is the caller coherent?

• Is the caller aware that the signing is to take place at the specific date and time?

• Dual signing? If not, ask if the husband/wife will be present just in case a signature is needed.

• Will there be pets?

• IF you are not a pet-friendly person, you may request that the pets be put in a separate location for signing.



Arriving at the Signing Location

•Upon arriving at the signing location, (BEFORE you get out of your vehicle) let down your window and LISTEN!

•You are listening for anything that sounds out of the ordinary

• Yelling/Screaming

• Dogs or other pets

• Loud noises (banging/thumping, gun shots)

•As you approach the home, you will continue to LISTEN!



What’s the environment like?

•Welcoming

•Calm/peaceful

•Home neatly organized

•Borrowers friendly, on same accord, and ready to complete the signing

•Awkward

•Aggressive

•Unpleasant

•Unwelcoming

•Home in disarray

•Borrowers bickering



During the Signing…1. Always go with your gut feeling! IF it doesn’t feel right, IT’S NOT RIGHT!!!

2. During the signing, look around the home. Do you see anything that sends up a red flag?

3. Do you see anything that could be used as a weapon against you?

4. What egress options are available? Think: “IF I can’t get out of the front door, what is my second option?”

5. You should also be thinking what your move will be should an attack occur.

6. Size up your opponent! Have a plan of “attack” in mind. If you don’t have to use it, then it was a good signing!

7. Have a “Rocky” mentality! Going home to your family is your priority!

8. Make good eye contact with borrower(s) and be CONFIDENT!

9. Continue to LISTEN! Is someone else in the home? Did someone pull up outside?



After the Signing•After the signing is complete, it’s now time for you to head back out to your car. While doing so, you should:

1. Continue to LISTEN!

2. Don’t procrastinate. Gather your things, wish the borrower(s) well, and go!

3. Try to position yourself so that the borrower(s) escort you out. Try to avoid someone being behind you.

4. Pay attention to your surroundings while walking back to the car. Again, did someone pull up while you were inside?



Should You Carry a Weapon to a Loan Signing?

1. You MUST know the Law(s) of your state regarding gun carry and/or weapons.

2. Be mindful that there’s a mindset that goes along with carrying a weapon.

3. Don’t let the “background check” over-influence your decision making.

4. You have to consider the fact that you are going into someone’s home with a weapon.

• How are you storing/carrying the weapon?

• Are the borrower’s comfortable or edgy with your gun carry?

• Are there children?

• Are there pets?

• Is it accessible to them?



THANK YOU!!!!


Questions?


Let’s Keep in Touch

•Website: www.ladyscottenterprises.com•Social Media:

• Facebook ― Lady Scott Enterprises, LLC• Instagram ― @ladyscottenterprisesllc• Twitter ― @ladyscottent

Travel: www.ladyscotttravel.paycationonline.comEmail: [email protected]

http://www.ladyscottenterprises.com/

http://www.ladyscotttravel.paycationonline.com/


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Placing Safety First: Protecting Yourself At A Loan Signing library/nna...back out to your car. While doing so, you should: 1.Continue to LISTEN! 2.Don’t procrastinate. Gather your