How can I check a phone number before I send money to the person?
Search the number online, including with the word "scam", see whether it is a virtual number and whether the name on WhatsApp and on the bank account match. None of this proves the person is honest, but it can reveal warning signs.
Scammers often use virtual or newly registered numbers, or numbers that other people have already reported in forums and groups.
Veritaza checks the number against scam lists, whether it looks like a virtual number and which country it belongs to.
How to check
- Search the full number with and without the country code, plus the word "scam".
- Compare the WhatsApp name, the profile photo and the bank account name.
- Be careful if the number belongs to another country than the person claims.
- Ask for a normal voice call, not only chat.
Frequently asked questions
- The number came up clean. Can I pay?
- No warning signs is a good sign, but not proof. Only pay when you can confirm the goods or the person some other way.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for ₦2,500.
Check a person