Checklists
Verify before you trust
Use a separate, familiar contact method before acting on an unexpected request.
Verification means checking a request somewhere other than the conversation that delivered it. This works whether someone claims to be a relative, a colleague, a charity, or a company. You can be caring and careful at the same time.
Key warning signs
- A familiar person contacts you from a new number and asks for money or a favor involving your account.
- An organization changes payment details unexpectedly or sends an urgent request to confirm information.
- The person gives you a number to call but discourages you from using your usual contact.
- A request feels out of character, even if the name, photo, or voice seems familiar.
What to do
Identify the request
Ask yourself: am I being asked to pay, sign in, share a code, or install something? Leave that action unfinished while you check.
Choose your own route
Call a saved number, open an app you already use, or type a known website address. A number copied from the suspicious message is not an independent check.
Ask about the specific request
Tell the person or organization what was requested. If you cannot reach them, wait. A demand for speed does not make the request more trustworthy.
Decide after checking
If the request is confirmed through a trusted channel, use that channel to discuss next steps. If it is not confirmed, do not proceed.
What not to do
- Do not treat caller ID, a display name, or a profile picture as identification.
- Do not rely on a second person introduced by the original caller as an independent source.
- Do not let someone else watch your screen or guide you through a payment while you verify.
When to get help
If you are uncertain, ask a trusted person to sit with you while you contact the organization. For a workplace request, use your organization’s known reporting process. If information or money has already been shared, contact the affected service promptly.
For U.S. scam reporting, visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For a personal identity-theft recovery plan, use IdentityTheft.gov. Outside the U.S., contact your local consumer-protection agency.
Try it together
A message from a ‘new number’ says a family member needs you to pay a bill. What is an independent check?
A safer next step
Call the family member’s previously saved number or reach another trusted contact who can speak with them directly. Do not just reply to the new number.
Sources & further reading
These public guidance sources informed this resource. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement of the Foundation.
ZoraSafe Foundation · https://www.zorasafefoundation.org/education/verify-before-you-trust