AI Scam Glossary
Verification protocol / Three Words Check
Three Words Check · out-of-band verification
The Three Words Check is a verification protocol that pauses an urgent request, asks for private codewords, compares them independently, and escalates or reports when the check fails.
What it means
The protocol is designed for calls, texts, and video messages that claim to be from a family member, friend, or teammate. It works because an AI system can imitate a person’s presentation but cannot reliably know a secret that changes outside the suspicious conversation.
How to protect yourself
- Pause instead of obeying urgency.
- Ask for the current words without offering clues.
- Verify on a known second channel before moving money or credentials.
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Verification protocol / Three Words Check — Trust Onion, September 17, 2026. https://trustonion.io/glossary/verification-protocol