In the new technological age, it’s not uncommon to get contracts and papers sent directly to your devices. However, instead of printing them out, signing them, and having to mail them back, you can quickly add a digital signature to the document and return it to the sender within minutes. Although it’s convenient, this can cause several issues as you may find that you can become a victim of digital signature fraud. The following blog explores these matters in further detail and explains why it’s in your best interest to connect with a San Diego County identity theft lawyer if you believe you are a victim of fraud.
What Is Digitial Signature Fraud?
Digital signature fraud occurs anytime someone uses or forges your personal or business signature on digital documents. In order to create a digital signature, you must create a signing certificate. Essentially, this works similarly to a driver’s license, as you must register the certificate and renew it after it has expired. This is to easily track and manage digital signatures, which is done by a certificate authority, which functions similarly to a notary.
Generally, your public key (a mathematical equation of numbers assigned to your unique digital signature) can determine if the signature is forged. In many instances, it will render a forged or altered signature invalid. However, as hackers and cybercriminals become more sophisticated, there are ways to circumvent this process.
How Can I Prevent This?
If you are worried about your digital signature being stolen and suffering the impact of identity theft, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damages associated. It’s important to ensure the platform you’re using to create your digital signature is reputable and has high levels of security. This includes encryption, identity verification, and different levels of security based on the needs of the signer and receiver.
You should also keep your systems up-to-date and secure. As your servers and devices will also store your digital signature, ensuring that you take the necessary measures to prevent hackers from attacking your devices directly is critical to protecting your identity.
What Should I Do if My Signature Was Forged?
If you have reason to believe your identity was compromised and your digital signature forged, it’s necessary to connect with an attorney as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many people are unsure how to proceed, leaving them vulnerable to further theft.
However, connecting with an experienced identity theft attorney from Barthel Legal can help you take the necessary measures to mitigate damages, resecure your identity, and potentially pursue compensation. Our team understands how challenging these matters can be, which is why we are here to fight for you. Reach out today to learn more.
