Identity verification probably wasn’t something you thought much about—until everyone’s digital identity became difficult to trust.
Just over a year ago, this played out on Twitter (now X). For years, users relied on blue checkmarks as quick, reliable proof of authenticity. It signaled that an account belonged to who it claimed—often a trusted authority.
When Elon Musk replaced verification badges with a paid version, bad actors quickly took advantage of the policy change. Parody and scam accounts flooded the platform, impersonating public figures and organizations. X scrambled to add parody labels and tighten fact-checking—but the damage was done, and the integrity of the checkmark came into question.
Not long after, Meta introduced its own paid verification across its platforms. Now, businesses and individuals can get these checkmark badges—if they keep paying the subscription fees. Once again, it’s led to confusion. If a business doesn’t have a checkmark, does that mean it’s not legitimate, or just that they chose not to pay?
In a digital world where authenticity badges come and go—free one day, monetized the next—we’re all thinking about identity verification much more as consumers. Wouldn’t it be nice to know who you’re interacting with without having to wonder if it’s a parody account or a clever imposter?
Fortunately, verified identity isn’t gone everywhere. When it comes to phone calls, businesses still have a way to prove they’re the real deal. The voice channel might be the best shot businesses have at rebuilding stakeholder trust as digital identities become harder to pin down in other domains.
At this point, you might be thinking, “Rebuild trust with phone calls? Do you know how many scam calls I get a day?”
Exactly. Like the internet, the voice network is flooded with bad actors impersonating businesses to defraud consumers. But while the internet struggles to tie identity to accounts and profiles, a real form of identity verification exists over the phone.
Numeracle pioneered what we call Verified Identity for voice. When the rise of illegal robocalls led to call blocking and labeling laws, enterprises were the first to have their identities misrepresented—without a way to regain control.
Verified Identity begins with a rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) vetting process to confirm your organization is legitimate and that your calls are legal and wanted. Next, Numeracle registers your numbers with all major wireless carriers, ensuring they recognize you as a trusted caller—so you’re not mistakenly flagged as spam or blocked as fraud.
Once vetted and registered, customers can sign up for Smart Branding, which displays their business name on all outbound calls. But unlike the processes of X and Meta, Numeracle ensures that branded calling is applied to vetted and protected phone numbers and accounts, so enterprises can remain in control of their identity and know they're delivering legitimate and trusted calls. It's a significant step towards regaining consumer trust when they see a name on an incoming phone call, rather than doubt.
This verification is handled end-to-end by Numeracle, a leader in identity solutions. With a seamless process, strong relationships with all major carriers, and best-in-class technology, we ensure enterprises get the identity verification you need—and that your customers can trust it.
Over the last two years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other federal agencies have taken a hard line on fraud conducted through identity impersonation over voice channels. Just recently, the FCC fined a telecom provider for $4.5 million because they allowing illegal callers to impersonate government workers, callers we would normally think to trust.
Numeracle has been fighting this battle for years with processes like Verified Identity—but broader industry adoption and consumer awareness are still needed.
As digital legitimacy becomes harder to parse, telecom providers must take the growing threat of impersonation seriously and invest in the processes and technologies needed to combat it. In the meantime, Numeracle will continue leading the charge in dedicating itself to aiding enterprise call delivery and trusted identity — we know how critical this effort is.
Policy changes and identity uncertainty have made digital trust harder to come by. Sometimes, the old ways still work best. Customers may not trust every phone call yet, but they can trust the verified ones that you make an effort to protect. In 2025, calling with Numeracle can be one of the most reliable ways to reach your audience.
