Editorial principles
Useful, calm and honest about uncertainty.
- Put immediate protective actions before dramatic details
- Describe observable tactics rather than guessing motives
- Use language that does not blame or shame victims
- Distinguish general education from professional advice
- Collect no private evidence to create educational content
Source standards
Primary and accountable sources come first.
We prioritise publications from consumer protection agencies, financial regulators, law-enforcement bodies, standards organisations and the official security teams of services being discussed. Where a claim is time-sensitive, the publication and event dates are checked.
Reputable research and specialist reporting may add context, but they do not replace an available primary source. Anonymous social posts, unverified screenshots, affiliate content and copied summaries are not treated as sufficient evidence for a safety claim.
Publication process
From source to practical guidance.
- Identify the pattern. Define the behaviour the guide needs to explain.
- Check authoritative guidance. Compare the claim with relevant primary sources.
- Write the safer response. Give an action that does not depend on the suspicious contact.
- Review limitations. Remove claims that imply certainty, authentication or guaranteed recovery.
- Date meaningful reviews. Show when time-sensitive source guidance was last checked.
Language and uncertainty
Warning signs are evidence for caution, not a verdict.
We use terms such as “warning sign,” “commonly used tactic” and “safer next step” because the website cannot inspect the full facts of a visitor’s situation. We avoid “verified,” “guaranteed safe” and similar claims unless they refer to a clearly described independent process.
Corrections and updates
Clear errors should be fixed, not hidden.
Correction requests should identify the page, the statement at issue and an authoritative public source supporting the change. Send them to contact@stopandverify.com without including private messages or personal information.
Minor wording and formatting changes may be made without a notice. Material corrections that change the meaning of safety guidance should be reflected in the page’s review information.
Automation and drafting tools
Tools may assist the work; sources remain the standard.
Software and automated drafting tools may assist with research organisation, language or formatting. They are not treated as factual authorities. Safety claims are checked against the source standards above before publication, and generated wording is revised when it overstates certainty or lacks support.
Advertising separation
Commercial relationships must not shape safety conclusions.
The current website does not show advertising. If advertising is introduced later, it will be visually distinguishable from editorial content. Advertisers will not receive advance approval of guides or determine which services, scam types or sources are discussed.
We do not ask visitors to click ads to support the website, and ads will not be placed where they could be mistaken for navigation, checklist answers or official safety recommendations.