Adapted by FBPE from a notice by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors
Fraud stamped on engineering plans

  1. Questionable Licensee Identity or Contact Information
  • Overseas or out-of-state phone numbers are inconsistent with the project location or licensee’s office.
  • Email address does not match the name of the licensee.
  • Missing or incomplete contact information, including the licensee’s address.
  • Inability to contact the licensee by telephone.
  • The client or owner has been communicating with someone not identified on the plans or otherwise associated with the licensee.
  1. Deficiencies With the Seal, Signature, or Certification
  • Photocopied, scanned, or facsimile seals and signatures.
  • Signatures that appear to have been copied and pasted, lacking a date.
  • Blurry, illegible, or poor-quality seals.
  • Seal format does not meet state requirements or uses the wrong state’s seal or license number.
  • The name in the title block does not match the name on the seal.
  1. Inconsistencies Within the Plans or Documents
  • Missing licensee address or other identifying information in the title block.
  • Poor-quality title blocks, or evidence that title blocks were copied and pasted.
  • Mismatched fonts, inconsistent formatting, or irregular sheet numbering.
  • General notes that do not match the drawings, or that reference codes from another state.
  • Excessive review comments suggesting the documents were not prepared by a qualified professional.
  • Rejection of plans filed for review due to an unverifiable digital signature.
  1. Indicators the Work Was Prepared by Someone Else
  • Evidence that the plans were created by an individual other than the professional whose seal appears on the documents.
  • The apparent designer is located outside the United States.
  • The contractor, owner, or applicant obtained the work through a freelancer marketplace.
  • The overall document format differs significantly from what is typically submitted by licensed professionals.
  1. Quality and Professionalism Concerns
  • Reports contain numerous spelling and grammatical errors, unusual phrases, or poor editing.
  • Foreign language appears throughout the documents without explanation.
  • General lack of professionalism in formatting or document preparation.
  1. Business Practice Red Flags
  • Unusually low pricing for professional engineering services.
  • Unsolicited emails offering engineering services.
  • Unrealistically fast turnaround times for complex professional work.