According to FINRA, Frenise Ladawn Mann was fined $7,500 and suspended for six months for electronically signing customer names on forms without and with permission, recording a false customer address, photocopying and reusing customer signatures, and impersonating a customer.

Mann electronically signed the names of customers on forms without their prior permission, and electronically signed forms for other customers with their prior permission. She also inaccurately recorded her own address as that of a customer in a new account application, with permission of the customer and at that customer's request. Additionally, Mann photocopied and then reused the signatures of customers on insurance application forms, with their prior permission.

Even though customers authorized some of this conduct and none were harmed or complained, the conduct violated firm policies and FINRA rules. After receiving a letter of reprimand from her firm for signature irregularities, Mann continued some of this misconduct. Some of the forms involved securities products and were required books and records of the firm, so the false signatures caused the firm to maintain inaccurate books and records.

Most seriously, Mann called the firm and impersonated a customer in an effort to obtain information about the customer's account, without permission of the customer. The firm ended the call before providing any information about the account.

While customer permission mitigates some aspects of this case, registered representatives cannot sign customer names even with permission because it creates documents falsely indicating customers signed them. This undermines the integrity of firm records and creates potential for errors and disputes. The impersonation incident is particularly concerning as it involved attempting to access customer information without authorization.

Investors should never allow their broker to sign their name on documents, even if it seems convenient. All signatures should be authentic to ensure accurate records and prevent potential abuse. Any broker who asks to sign on a customer's behalf or who impersonates customers is engaging in serious misconduct.