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Pennsylvania Notary charged with document fraud in Philadelphia property theft scam

In the foreground, the scales of justice symbolize the legal consequences now facing the accused. Behind them, the official coat of arms of Pennsylvania is superimposed, anchoring the case within the state's authority and legal system. The shadowy silhouette of a person evokes secrecy, deception, or a figure under investigation—mirroring the alleged fraudulent actions.

An accidental Notary error can be bad enough. But when a Notary intentionally commits a crime, the damage to victims can be monumental, as seen in the case of a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Notary charged with using her commission to help steal nearly two dozen homes over several years.

Gwendolyn Schell, a Notary based in Germantown, was accused of forging signatures as part of a scheme to illegally transfer property deeds from both deceased and living homeowners, according to PhillyVoice.com. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office said in a statement that Schell played a key part in the scheme by backdating execution dates on property documents, forging signatures of deceased grantors, and using a Notary stamp to falsely indicate she had witnessed individuals signing documents.

“A Notary Public is someone whose very job is to act as a gatekeeper to prevent fraud. Instead of doing that, Gwendolyn Schell not only allowed for fraud to occur but also actively engaged in and arranged for the theft of multiple properties here in our own communities,” said Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Esack, Supervisor of the DAO’s Economic Crimes Division. “The system of property transfer in Philadelphia cannot survive if we can no longer trust its participants, who are tasked with safeguarding the process. Gwendolyn Schell has broken that trust and will now be held accountable for that failure.”

Because of the vital role of Notaries in protecting the public against document fraud, a Notary must always adhere to high ethical standards and be on guard against unscrupulous individuals who may try to trick the Notary into ignoring or enabling fraud during a notarization.

For more information on how you can protect yourself and signers from possible document fraud, please read our article on types of criminals who target Notaries and how to spot illegal Notary requests. And if you encounter suspicious notarization requests and are not sure what to do, NNA members can call or email the NNA Notary Hotline for assistance.

David Thun is the Editorial Manager at the National Notary Association.

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