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Spotting scams and phishing · Lesson 4 of 5

Verify independently

Independent verification means leaving the conversation and using a channel the requester does not control. Details supplied inside the suspicious message are not independent.

4 min readBeginner friendly · No account required
See it in everyday life

A practical example

For an unusual payment request from a colleague, call a known number or speak in person rather than asking the same chat account to confirm itself.

Do this now

Three useful actions

  1. 01

    Use an official app, a known website, a number on your card, or an established contact.

  2. 02

    For money or account-detail changes, require a second person or channel where practical.

  3. 03

    Ask a question only the real person should know, but do not rely on personal facts that may be public.