Data Breach Investigation Turns Into Lawsuit

August 2025

A new lawsuit has hit Mobile Notary Zone for a breach of data. Mobile Notary Zone is a mobile notary service based out of Nevada.

In June, Mobile Notary Zone informed at least one client that their data had been breached. The breach was successful, gaining access to valuable client information. It was the full data set.

Things like social security numbers and financial information were breached. Pretty much any information held by Mobile Notary Zone was accessible in the hack.

As of this date, Mobile Notary Zone has not released how many clients were affected, but if you have received a data breach letter in the mail from them, you should assume your personal information was part of the hack.

Data Breach Investigation Turns Into Lawsuit

Mobile Notary Zone uses a third party for data security. New American Funding LLC. They have launched an internal investigation on how the hack happened. So far, they’ve only said an unauthorized user gained access to its systems containing personal data.

If you are a client, you may want to move on and look at us, Sunshine Signing. We provide nationwide services for mobile notaries and remote online notarizations. Our notaries are the best in the business, and our in house online notarizations are done by experts in the field.

For notaries, information about the leak has not been confirmed, but is likely.

Anyone working for or with Mobile Notary Zone may be compensated for not only any fraud, harm or inconvenience committed to them, but also reasonable expenses to protect themselves. Please make note that most people saying you may receive compensation are lawyers trying to drum up business. So please, take it with a grain of salt. But, if one lawsuit is successful, many others will follow.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

You can sign up for a credit monitoring service. Some are free. Mobile Notary Zone may also be required to pay for one for you for a specified time. This is depending on how the early legal process plays out, or if the company wants to be proactive in protecting clients and notaries that work with them.

You need to monitor all of your accounts closely. Look for anything that does not belong and notify your bank immediately if you find any discrepancies.

Get in contact with the credit bureaus. You can get a free credit report from them once a year, but you can also place a Fraud Alert with them. This informs creditors to take extra steps in verifying if someone is not who they say they are.

You can work with your bank to update card or account numbers. They will know what to do to make things as easy as possible for you. Make sure you have a full conversation with them, as any direct deposits or payments from these accounts may be affected. You may also need new checks or other things. Don’t take our word for it, get it right from the horses mouth if you need to do anything to protect yourself, and by extension, your bank.

Finally, if it comes to it (which we hope not), seek legal help. If Mobile Notary Zone makes a list or notifies you that you are affected, that may be the best route, especially if any fraud was made in your name.

This is one of the worst things that can happen to a notary, or a business that uses a notary service. With financial information being compromised, it is a dangerous situation. Once again, Sunshine Signing welcomes anyone who would like to move to a new (and better) notary signing service.

In the News, Notary News and Advice

South Dakota Says See Ya to Surety Bonds

July 2025

Well, next time South Dakota notaries renew (new ones too) they will no longer have to post a surety bond. Up until July 1st it was necessary, but House Bill 1133 changed that.

If you are currently under commission you must keep your bond until the end of the commission. But, when you renew your commission the surety bond no longer needs to be renewed.

For those out of the loop, a surety bond:

A surety bond is a three-party contract that guarantees a party (the principal) will fulfill their obligations to another party (the obligee), according to the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA). The surety, often an insurance or bonding company, provides a financial guarantee that the obligee will be compensated if the principal fails to perform their obligations.

South Dakota Says See Ya to Surety Bonds

No other major changes were made. Everything else in the new or renewal for a notary remains untouched.

Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson commented on the new legislation, stating, “This legislation streamlines the notary process and removes a barrier that often caused confusion or delay. We are committed to making public services as accessible and efficient as possible.”

It is always a positive to see new legislation make a notary’s life easier. Saving a little money on a bond is a bonus as well.

Want to know how to become a notary in South Dakota? We’d recommend this page on “How to Become a Notary”.

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Accused Nebraska Notary to Run for Governor

“While we normally never give a notary’s name, we will in this case, as the notary is running for governor. His name is going to be plastered everywhere, so we feel we should break our rule in this instance.”

July 2025

The Nebraska saga takes another strange.

Jacy Todd, accused of 24 counts of improper notarization. has thrown his hat into a run for governor. For the record, he does deny the charges.

We’ve been covering this story for a while. If you want to catch up, we recommend you read our previous stories.

As you can see, it has been a roller coaster ride up to this point. And in a lot of ways, it is just getting started. Some might even say it is bizarre.

Accused Nebraska Notary to Run for Governor

Todd is a Republican who has signed up for the 2026 primary, facing off against current Governor Jim PIllen. He is the first one to challenge the incumbent. The primary is in May 2026.

This is garnering a lot of attention, not only because of the pending charges, but also because Todd is a big supporter of legal marijuana. The owner of a CBD health and wellness store has placed himself in the spotlight.

Todd faces some huge hurdles to win the primary. The incumbent Governor Pillen already had 3.7 million dollars in campaign donations. For his part, Todd said he will travel the state and out-voice PIllen. He also looks forward to Governor debates to close the gap between his new rival.

It is a truly grassroots campaign, that aims to target Nebraskans looking for change.

“I think that Nebraska is a powerful enough state that we could grass root this all the way to the Capitol and clean house up there,” Todd said.

There is anger amongst many Nebraskans, who passed the medical marijuana bill by a vote of over 70%. The state legislature is ignoring the will of the voters, and is stalling the voters’ intentions. In many eyes this is an abandonment of their duties to the voters.

Regarding the charges, Todd says he was purposefully targeted. Since he was a prominent proponent and volunteer for the initiative, he says he was singled out by the state.

We could pore over all of the legal details of the story, but we recommend you check out this story from the Nebraska Examiner for more details.

Todd is not the first person to become a notary for a cause important to them, and he won’t be the last. He didn’t do it for the money, he did it for health reasons.

A combat veteran and a sufferer of PTSD, Todd found no solace in the loads of medications given to him. It was not until he discovered marijuana on a trip to Colorado that he found his answer. He said it worked and give him his first good night sleep in years.

Since then, he has become an ardent supporter of legalized marijuana, and has tried his best to help people who need or want to try CBD.

We wish Jacy Todd the best.

Florida Not the Only State with Notarios

Well, we’ve been much ado about the notario situation in Florida, it has started to be addressed in another. Notario fraud has exploded in California and the attorney general wants to make sure everyone knows about it.

Notarios have become more active among immigrants, who are falling for the immigration scams that have become prevalent. For those who have not read our previous articles, notarios promise legal services that are not allowed under US law. These people are not trained on the law and cannot give advice.

A big hangup is that notario publicos can provide legal services in many of the countries affected by immigration. So, people fall for it more easily. The exception are lawyers, who are allowed to offer notario services, but are discouraged from using the name.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has now released a warning.

“Immigration scams, including notario fraud, prey on the hopes of safety and stability of our immigrant communities,” said Bonta. “Before hiring someone claiming to offer help with immigration matters or assistance locating a detained loved one, I urge people to familiarize themselves with existing resources that are often available at little or no cost and learn how to check that the individual is qualified to provide immigration help.”

Here is a sample of what not to do, according to the consumer alert.

DON’T

Do not hire an immigration consultant or a notary. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so. They cannot provide legal advice or direction with immigration forms, help you fill out forms, or assess your eligibility for different types of immigration relief. They also cannot speak to the government on your behalf. They can only do non-legal, clerical tasks, like translating information on forms.

Do not be persuaded by false promises or pressured to pay for immigration services.

Do not trust anyone who claims to be able to get special favors from the government or guarantees you a work permit or any other immigration benefit. Do not trust anyone who wants you to act immediately. Be skeptical of social media or other ads promising new or quick immigration help.
California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General.

Do not sign anything until you understand what you are signing. Do no not agree to anything that is not put in writing and in a language you understand. If you are not fluent in the language the contract is in, ask that it be translated. You are entitled to a contract that lists all the services that will be provided and how much each service costs. Keep a copy of the contract and all receipts of your payments.

Do not pay for immigration forms. These forms can be accessed for free by visiting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at uscis.gov/forms or (800) 870-3676.

Do not sign an immigration form that includes incorrect information or blanks. Before you sign any immigration forms, be sure that the forms are fully and accurately filled out. Don’t let anyone convince you to lie on a form or sign a blank form. Never sign anything until you understand what it says.

Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. No federal or state agency, including USCIS, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text.

There are actions to take in the consumer alert as well as resources.

In some ways, it is evident to avoid anyone who calls themselves a notario.

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