BRPELS Director Ken Fuller, PE, spoke to the annual conference of Washington State Association of County Engineers meeting in Longview Wednesday, June 10, 2026. He presented on engineering ID theft and fraud, an issue growing across the US and Washington state.
The problem starts when a fraudster steals a WA state professional engineer’s license number, stamp and even signature. Next, the fraudster uses these credentials to create a fake profile on a website hosting freelance services. They promise professional, licensed engineering plans. The public gets fooled by the offer of inexpensive “professional, stamped” plans for a new house, add on, etc. Sometimes it’s a business that gets scammed.
The fraudsters likely copy/paste other plans or perhaps create them using artificial intelligence (AI). The plans often appear neat, clean, but can have a surprising amount of detail. At any rate, these fake plans were not drawn or stamped by a real, licensed, professional engineer in Washington.
In this scenario, consumers get plans that can have serious mistakes, fail to meet code and even create safety risks. Sometimes the fraudster never delivers anything, just takes the money and runs.
These websites often ignore complaints and most Boards do not have the authority to pursue legal action against freelance websites.
These effects are felt across the US, including other professions that stamp. Organizations working for answers include the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), as well as BRPELS and other state licensing agencies. We’re continuing to work to find solutions.
In the meantime PE’s should:
• monitor online freelance platforms for misuse of your credentials
• for digitally signed documents, use a secure app with identity validation and audit trails
• for physical documents, be aware of forgery techniques like using a deceased engineer's credentials
BRPELS has created a FRAUD ALERT tab on our website, to warn unsuspecting consumers. While both BRPELS and NCEES continue to find answers and keep you updated, if you have an idea, send it to us here.
