A familiar face. A convincing voice. But who is speaking?
A video call begins. The person on screen looks like a well-known journalist and urgently asks for documents “for an important investigation”. Another caller claims to represent a public organisation and says you must decide immediately. In a different call, the person might introduce themselves as a bank employee, a newsroom representative or even a prominent politician.
Surprise comes first. Then you listen: the face looks familiar, the voice sounds confident, and the caller knows your name. Yet neither an image nor a voice proves who is on the other end. Voice cloning is already used in scams; the US Federal Trade Commission advises people to verify such stories through a contact channel they find independently.
One sentence that gives you back a choice
“I’ll check this contact through HUMAS ID. If your organisation confirms it, we can continue.”
You do not have to accuse the caller or judge whether a video is genuine. If you have a HUMAS ID account and have already accepted a connection with that organisation, ask the employee to open a check for you in the organisation’s account during the call. Then open “Check a call” in your own account, select the organisation and start the check. The employee responds from the organisation’s account and reads out the eight-digit answer first. You enter what you hear in your own account and see the result.
Never give the caller your password, a sign-in code or another secret. During this check, you enter the answer you hear from the organisation’s staff member yourself.
A match means that a staff account for the selected organisation answered the check. It does not authenticate the voice or phone number, and it does not authorise a payment, disclosure of documents or any other action. If doubt remains, end the call and contact the organisation through an official channel you already know.
Three conversations worth pausing
“I’m calling from your bank. Move your money to a safe account.” Urgency works against you. If you have an accepted HUMAS ID connection with that bank and it uses the service, start a call check. Even a successful staff response does not make a transfer safe. Before doing anything with your money, contact the bank yourself through its official app or the number on your card.
“I’m a journalist. Send me the messages and we’ll go on air today.” The face on screen may be familiar, and the voice may sound genuine. If the newsroom is connected to HUMAS ID and you have accepted its connection, check the contact in the service. If you have no such connection, HUMAS ID cannot verify this call. Find the newsroom independently and ask whether it contacted you. Do not send the material until you know.
“I’m a prominent politician. Join this urgent video meeting and endorse our statement.” A recognisable face on screen proves neither the speaker’s identity nor their authority. HUMAS ID is not a register of politicians or journalists. If the approach is made on behalf of a connected organisation, you can check a response from its staff. Otherwise, pause and verify the invitation through that organisation’s official channel. You do not owe anyone an explanation for refusing to act immediately.
Confidence begins with the right to pause
A check is not a demand to distrust everyone. It gives you a calm, clear step when appearances are no longer reliable. A matching result can help you decide whether to continue; if a check is unavailable, use an independent channel instead of guessing from a voice or image.
Individuals can register for HUMAS ID for free. Organisations can apply to join and undergo a review. See how HUMAS ID works and how to join.
When your money, documents or reputation are at stake, “let’s check first” is a reasonable way to begin a responsible conversation.