What started as a simple warning as 2020 got underway has gone viral with media outlets across the nation discussing, and debating, the advice from a Maine police department and an Ohio law office. 

On the first day of the new year, the East Millincoket Police Department shared on its Facebook page a word of advice originally shared by the Facebook page for George E. Moore Law Office, LLC, a law firm in Celina, Ohio. 

“When signing and dating legal documents, do not use 20 as the year 2020. March 3rd, 2020 being written as 3/3/20 could be modified to 3/3/2017 or 3/3/2018. Protect yourself. Do not abbreviate 2020," read the photo attached the post. 

Along with the photo, the East Millinocket department noted the “sound advice [...] should be considered when signing any legal or professional document” as the advice “could potentially save you some trouble down the road.”

The post by Moore’s law office has been shared 58,000 times with more than 500 comments and over 900 reactions. 

The post by the police department in Penobscot County has been shared over 7,200 times with nearly 300 comments and over 900 reactions. 

The difference between the two posts is that news outlets across the nation such as local affiliate television stations from coast to coast and national media outlets such as CNN, ABC News, Forbes, Newsweek and NBC’s Today Show discussed the police department’s post. 

The Today Show spoke with one Pennsylvania attorney if this is, in fact, a legitimate concern people should heed in the new year. 

“The chances of someone trying to pull that kind of fraud on you are pretty slim, especially since it is so easy to prove that it was done,” said Michael Ventrella. 

Ira Rheingold, executive director for the National Association of Consumer Advocates, disagrees. 

Rheingold, speaking to CNN, noted 1/04/20 could easily be changed to 1/04/2021 on a check while a lender could, in theory, claim a consumer missed more payment than they really missed by changing a date from ending in simply 20 to ending in 2019. 

Dusty Rhodes, the auditor for Hamilton County in Ohio, concurred on the latter example by writing on Twitter that a date change on paperwork could result in your signature being on an incorrect document. 

A new statement from the police department was later issued, according to ABC News, clarifying its stance its viral post. 

“Please understand that we handle scam and fraud calls on a regular basis so we try to provide our small community with tips to avoid potential problems,” the statement read. “Of course we understand that all dates can be altered. Criminals are always looking for ways to take advantage of people. This meme provided a tip that we felt has some validity so this is why we shared it. It is not intended as legal advice or a warning, only as a cautionary tip to consider.”

Reach George Harvey at: sports@penbaypilot.com.