FINRA Warns Member Firms of E-Signature Violations

Posted on August 24th, 2022 at 1:35 PM
FINRA Warns Member Firms of E-Signature Violations

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a regulatory notice warning financial advisor firms to closely monitor how advisors utilize third-party digital signature platforms amidst a spike in forgery and falsifications.

While digital signature tools have increased efficiency, they also come with a heightened risk of forgery or falsification, according to FINRA. FINRA noted that firms have reported issues with forged signatures from clients on account opening documents, account activity letters, and internal firm documents. FINRA recommended that firms employ digital signature tools to track Internet Protocol (IP) addresses illustrating where the document was signed. For example, firms have discovered cases where the UP address for the client e-signature and the advisor were the same.

In alternative cases, advisors had sent e-signature documents to their own emails to be signed rather than to the client. FINRA additionally recommended that firms rely on advisor support staff to monitor for potential violations.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I want to extend a tremendous thank you for your dedication, professionalism, hard work and patient demeanor through this challenging time. It was enjoyable interacting with everyone on your team, this certainly helped while dealing with the situation and working towards resolution.

Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 19, 2025
Industry Groups Press Senate at Advance Financial Exploitation Prevention Act

Several industry associations are urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, legislation that would allow mutual fund companies and their transfer agents to delay redemptions when they reasonably suspect elder financial abuse.

December 18, 2025
UBS Warns of Rising Default Risk in Private Credit

A UBS report signals that credit stress likely will intensify next year as borrowers confront inflation, elevated interest costs, and softening consumer conditions.

December 17, 2025
Audit Failures, Whistleblower Claims, and Renewed Scrutiny of the Big Four

A series of lawsuits, congressional findings, and high-profile corporate collapses has reignited long-standing concerns about the audit industry’s ability to confront fraud, as reported by Bloomberg Law.