How to Run an Accurate Background Check Using a Phone Number

Why Phone Number Background Checks Matter

Whether you're a sales professional verifying a lead, a recruiter screening candidates, or someone trying to identify an unknown caller, running a background check using a phone number has become an essential skill. Phone numbers are unique identifiers tied to individuals, and when used correctly, they can unlock a wealth of information-from basic contact details to comprehensive background reports.

The challenge? Not all background check methods deliver accurate results. Free services typically achieve only 60-70% accuracy for basic information like carrier and location, and accuracy drops below 40% for actual owner identification on prepaid mobile numbers. That gap between promise and reality can cost you time, money, and missed opportunities.

In this guide, we'll break down exactly how to run an accurate background check by phone number, which methods actually work, and how to maximize your hit rates without breaking the bank.

Understanding How Phone Number Background Checks Work

Before diving into tools and tactics, it helps to understand the mechanics behind phone number lookups. Modern background check services pull from multiple data sources to build a picture of who owns a number:

• Carrier subscriber data: Direct lookups through CNAM (Caller Name) databases retrieve the name associated with a phone number from the carrier itself. This is often the most accurate source for landlines but less reliable for mobile numbers.
• Public records: Court filings, property records, voter registration, and other government databases are cross-referenced to match phone numbers with individuals.
• Social media and online profiles: Phone numbers used to register social accounts or posted on public profiles get indexed and matched.
• Data broker aggregation: Large data aggregators compile information from credit applications, warranty registrations, and other sources where people voluntarily provide their phone numbers.

The most accurate background check services combine all these sources, cross-reference the data, and flag discrepancies. Single-source lookups are faster but miss critical context that could affect accuracy.

How CNAM (Caller Name) Lookups Actually Work

CNAM stands for Caller Name Delivery, a fundamental component of phone number verification. When you receive a call, your phone displays caller information by querying CNAM databases maintained by carriers. The terminating carrier-the one serving your phone line-performs a database lookup using the caller's phone number to retrieve the associated name.

However, CNAM has significant limitations for background checks. The system was designed primarily for landlines, and CNAM records are limited to just 15 characters. Mobile numbers often have incomplete or outdated CNAM information because prepaid phones don't require the same registration verification. Additionally, there's no single unified CNAM database-different carriers maintain separate databases that may contain inconsistent information.

For background check purposes, CNAM lookups serve best as one data point among many, rather than your sole source of truth. Professional-grade background check tools supplement CNAM with dozens of other data sources to build a more complete picture.

Step-by-Step: Running an Accurate Background Check by Phone Number

Step 1: Gather Your Starting Data

Before running any search, document what you already know about the number. Even small details improve accuracy:

• Is it a mobile, landline, or VoIP number?
• What area code is it registered to?
• When and how did you acquire this number?
• Do you have any context about the owner (partial name, company, location)?

This context helps you evaluate the results you get back. If a background check returns a name that doesn't match your context, you'll know to dig deeper rather than accepting potentially inaccurate data.

Step 2: Start with Free Verification Methods

Don't jump straight to paid services. Free methods can often confirm basic details:

Social media search: Enter the phone number directly into Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram's search bar. Many users link their phone numbers to profiles, making this a surprisingly effective first step.

Google the number: A simple search can reveal if the number appears on business listings, public directories, or complaint sites. Put the number in quotes for exact matches.

Check messaging apps: WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal show profile names and photos when you add a number. This won't give you a full background check, but it can confirm identity quickly.

These free methods work best for numbers that owners have used publicly. Private or business numbers may require dedicated tools.

Step 3: Use a Dedicated Background Check Tool

For comprehensive results, you'll need a tool specifically designed for background verification. Galadon's Background Checker is built for professionals who need accurate results without subscription fees. It aggregates multiple data sources and provides trust scores so you can gauge reliability.

When using any background check tool, look for these features:

• Trust or confidence scores: Good tools tell you how reliable their match is, not just what they found.
• Multiple data points: Reports should include more than just a name-addresses, associated emails, possible relatives, and social profiles help verify accuracy.
• Source transparency: Know where the data comes from so you can assess its likely accuracy.

Step 4: Cross-Reference Results

A single tool is never enough for high-stakes verification. Once you have results from your primary background check, validate them:

• Does the name match what you find on LinkedIn for that person's employer?
• Does the address history make geographic sense?
• Can you find the same person through an email lookup?

If you have an email associated with the contact, use an email verification tool to confirm it's active and legitimate. Cross-referencing phone and email data dramatically improves accuracy.

The Real Problem: Phone Number Types and Their Accuracy Challenges

Landlines vs. Mobile Numbers

Landline numbers remain the most straightforward to trace accurately. They're tied to physical addresses and billing information, making CNAM lookups and public record matches more reliable. If your background check returns a landline, you can typically expect accuracy rates between 75-85% for basic owner information.

Mobile numbers present more complexity. Contract mobile phones require identity verification during signup, which means carriers have accurate subscriber data. However, that information isn't always accessible through standard background check services. Privacy regulations restrict how much carrier data can be shared, and mobile users change numbers more frequently than landline customers.

The VoIP Number Challenge

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) numbers have fundamentally changed phone number verification. These internet-based numbers come in two types: fixed VoIP numbers tied to physical addresses (similar to landlines) and non-fixed VoIP numbers that can be registered with just an email address.

Fixed VoIP numbers, such as those used by businesses with internet-based phone systems, offer moderate traceability. They're registered to specific locations and usually associated with legitimate organizations. Background checks can identify the business or organization, though individual user identification may be limited.

Non-fixed VoIP numbers-available through services like Google Voice, Skype, and countless app-based phone services-present the biggest challenge. Users can register these numbers with minimal information, often just an email address and payment method. The numbers aren't tied to geographic locations, making area codes meaningless. A caller with a VoIP number showing a New York area code could be physically located anywhere in the world.

When running background checks on VoIP numbers, expect significantly lower accuracy rates. Many background check services will correctly identify the number as VoIP and may reveal which service provider hosts it, but owner identification often proves impossible through standard methods. For VoIP numbers, your best approach involves checking the domain information if you have call logs from a VoIP system, contacting the service provider directly (which usually requires legal authority), or relying on the user's broader digital footprint through social media and email verification.

Common Accuracy Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Recycled Phone Numbers: The Hidden Risk

Mobile carriers regularly reassign numbers from previous owners-and this happens far more frequently than most people realize. According to Federal Communications Commission data, approximately 35-37 million phone numbers are disconnected annually in the United States. After a mandatory aging period of at least 45 days (though typically 90 days), these numbers re-enter circulation and get assigned to new subscribers.

That means nearly 10% of all U.S. phone numbers change hands each year. In high-demand area codes like New York's 212 or Los Angeles's 310, recycling happens even faster. Research from Princeton University found that among 259 sampled recycled numbers, 171 were still tied to existing accounts at popular websites, and 215 showed vulnerabilities to either account hijacking or personal information indexing.

For background check purposes, recycled numbers create significant accuracy problems. A background check might return completely valid information-just about the wrong person. The data you're seeing belonged to the number's previous owner, not the current one.

Look for these warning signs of recycled numbers in background check reports:

• Activity gaps: If the report shows recent activity that suddenly stops, followed by a period of dormancy, the number may have been disconnected and recently reassigned.
• Inconsistent information: When background data shows someone in their 60s but social media profiles suggest a teenager, you're likely seeing data from different people.
• "First seen" and "last seen" dates: Quality background check tools show when data was first and last observed. A recent "first seen" date on a supposedly established number suggests recycling.
• Conflicting geographic data: If property records show a homeowner in Florida but recent activity centers on California, consider the possibility of a recycled number.

When you suspect a recycled number, increase your verification requirements. Demand additional identifying information, cross-reference with email verification, or use Galadon's Email Finder to locate alternative contact methods that can help confirm identity.

VoIP and Virtual Numbers

VoIP numbers (from services like Google Voice, Skype, or business phone systems) are notoriously difficult to trace accurately. These numbers often have limited carrier data and may be registered to businesses rather than individuals. If a background check flags a number as VoIP, expect lower accuracy rates.

Prepaid Mobile Phones

Prepaid phone numbers don't require the same registration process as contract phones. Background checks on prepaid numbers frequently return incomplete or outdated information because the carrier has less verified data to share.

Outdated Databases

Some background check services don't update their databases frequently. If someone recently moved, changed carriers, or got a new number, older services may still show outdated information. Prioritize tools that emphasize real-time or frequently updated data.

Understanding Data Sources Behind Phone Lookups

Public Records Databases

Public records form the backbone of comprehensive background checks. These include:

Court records: Civil and criminal case filings often include phone numbers as contact information. When someone appears in court-whether as a plaintiff, defendant, or witness-that information becomes part of the public record.

Property records: Real estate transactions, property tax records, and deed filings typically include phone numbers for owners. These records are particularly valuable because they're updated relatively frequently and tie phone numbers to physical addresses.

Business registrations: Company formation documents, business licenses, and corporate filings often include phone numbers for registered agents and company officers. This makes business number verification more straightforward than personal number lookups.

Voter registration data: In many states, voter registration information including phone numbers becomes part of the public record. This source is particularly reliable because it requires identity verification during registration.

Data Broker Aggregation

Commercial data brokers compile information from hundreds of sources to create comprehensive consumer profiles. These profiles include:

• Credit header information (non-financial data from credit applications)
• Warranty and product registrations
• Magazine subscriptions and mailing list data
• Survey responses and contest entries
• Online purchases and account registrations

Data brokers cross-reference this information to link phone numbers with individuals. The accuracy depends on how recently the broker updated their databases and how many sources they aggregate. Premium background check services often purchase data from multiple brokers to maximize coverage.

Social Media and Web Scraping

Billions of social media profiles, forum posts, and website listings contain phone numbers. Automated web crawlers index this information and match it to individual profiles. While this source can provide current information, it also introduces accuracy risks:

• People may list fake numbers on public profiles for privacy
• Old profiles may contain outdated contact information
• Numbers listed on spam or scam websites can pollute the data

The best background check services filter social media data against other sources to verify accuracy before including it in reports.

Telecommunications Carrier Data

Direct carrier data represents the gold standard for phone number verification, but it's also the hardest to access. Carriers maintain detailed subscriber information, but privacy regulations and company policies limit how much they share with background check services.

CNAM lookups provide limited access to carrier data, returning just the 15-character name associated with a number. More comprehensive carrier information-including detailed billing addresses, account creation dates, and identity verification documents-typically requires legal processes like subpoenas or warrants.

Accuracy Rates: What to Realistically Expect

Setting realistic expectations prevents frustration. Based on industry research and carrier data, here's what you can typically expect:

• Free services: 60-70% accuracy for basic data (carrier, location), below 40% for owner identification
• Paid consumer services: 70-80% accuracy for landlines, 50-70% for mobile numbers
• Enterprise-grade B2B tools: Up to 85% accuracy for phone numbers when combined with email verification
• AI-enhanced platforms: Up to 80% accuracy by combining multiple data points with machine learning predictions

These numbers underscore why verification matters. Even the best tools aren't perfect, which is why cross-referencing multiple sources remains the gold standard for accurate background checks.

Accuracy also varies significantly by number type. Landlines with established history show accuracy rates 20-30 percentage points higher than newly activated mobile numbers. VoIP numbers drop another 20-40 percentage points below mobile number accuracy. Prepaid mobile phones perform worst of all, with owner identification accuracy often below 30% on free services.

Advanced Verification Techniques for Professionals

Multi-Source Triangulation

The most reliable background check workflows use multiple verification points to triangulate identity. Start with the phone number background check, then cross-reference against:

Email verification: Use Galadon's Email Verifier to confirm email addresses are valid and actively used. If the phone number and email both connect to the same name across multiple sources, confidence increases dramatically.

LinkedIn profile matching: Professional social media provides strong identity verification. If someone's LinkedIn profile lists the same phone number or company as your background check results, you've found strong confirmation.

Company verification: For business numbers, verify the organization exists and operates at the locations shown in background check results. Use Galadon's Tech Stack Scraper to understand more about a company's digital presence and validate their legitimacy.

Address history consistency: Background checks showing address histories should display logical geographic progression. Someone who supposedly moved from New York to California to Florida over three years shows more plausible patterns than someone with addresses in six different states within one year.

Reverse Workflow: Finding Phone Numbers from Other Data

Sometimes you need to work backward-you have a person's name or email and need to find their phone number to then verify it's correct. Galadon's Mobile Number Finder helps you locate phone numbers associated with emails or LinkedIn profiles. Once you have a number, run it through a background check to confirm it matches the person you're researching.

This reverse workflow provides powerful verification because you're approaching the problem from multiple angles. If you can start with a name, find a phone number, run a background check on that number, and have the results match your original research, you've achieved high-confidence verification.

Pattern Recognition and Red Flags

Experienced researchers develop instincts for spotting problematic background check results. Watch for these warning signs:

• Too many associates: If a background check shows dozens of "possible associates," the data may be pulling from outdated or inaccurate sources that cast too wide a net.
• Generic addresses: Results showing only city and state (without street addresses) suggest incomplete data collection.
• Age inconsistencies: If calculated age based on listed birth year doesn't match other indicators (graduation dates, employment history), investigate further.
• Sparse reports: A phone number that returns almost no results may be very new, a VoIP number, or fake.
• Conflicting data: When different sections of the same report contradict each other, trust the data with the most recent timestamp.

When You Need More Than a Phone Number

Sometimes a phone number alone isn't enough to build a complete picture. In these cases, expand your search:

Find the email: Use Galadon's Mobile Number Finder in reverse-if you know someone's email or LinkedIn profile, you can find associated phone numbers and then cross-reference back to your original search.

Company verification: For B2B applications, knowing the company can help verify if a phone number legitimately belongs to someone at that organization. Company directories, LinkedIn, and corporate websites often list direct lines or confirm employee status.

Social graph analysis: Some advanced tools map relationships between phone numbers, emails, and social profiles. This can reveal if someone is who they claim to be by showing consistent connections across platforms.

Building Complete Contact Profiles

The most effective approach to identity verification builds complete contact profiles that combine multiple data points:

1. Start with the phone number: Run your initial background check and document all findings.
2. Extract leads: Note any emails, addresses, social media usernames, or associated names in the report.
3. Verify each lead: Check emails with Email Verifier, search social media profiles, and validate addresses.
4. Document connections: Map how different data points connect. Do multiple sources link the same phone, email, and name?
5. Score confidence: Rate your confidence in the identity based on how many independent sources confirm the same information.

This comprehensive approach takes more time but dramatically reduces false positives and mistaken identities.

Legal Considerations for Phone Number Background Checks

Before running any background check, understand the legal boundaries:

Personal use: Looking up phone numbers to identify unknown callers, verify potential dates, or reconnect with old friends is generally legal in the United States.

Business use with restrictions: Using background check data for employment decisions, tenant screening, or credit determinations requires FCRA-compliant services and often applicant consent. Most consumer phone lookup services explicitly prohibit these uses.

Prohibited uses: Using phone lookups to harass, stalk, or intimidate individuals is illegal regardless of which tool you use.

When in doubt, check the terms of service for your chosen tool and consult with legal counsel for high-stakes business applications.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Compliance

The FCRA governs how consumer reporting agencies collect, share, and use consumer information. If you're using background checks for employment, tenant screening, credit evaluation, or insurance underwriting, you must use FCRA-compliant services.

Most consumer-grade phone number lookup tools explicitly state they are not FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agencies. This means you cannot legally use their data for covered decisions. For regulated purposes, you need services specifically designed for employment screening or tenant verification.

Even for non-FCRA purposes, best practices include:

• Only looking up information you have a legitimate reason to verify
• Keeping lookup results confidential and secure
• Not sharing background check data with unauthorized parties
• Documenting your business purpose for running checks

State-Specific Privacy Laws

Beyond federal regulations, many states have enacted their own privacy laws affecting background checks. California's Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Virginia's Consumer Data Protection Act, and similar laws in other states grant consumers rights regarding their personal data.

These laws generally don't prohibit running background checks, but they do require businesses to disclose data collection practices and honor consumer requests to see or delete their information. If you're running background checks as part of business operations, ensure you have appropriate privacy policies and data handling procedures.

Industry-Specific Applications

Sales and Lead Verification

For sales professionals, phone number verification prevents wasted time pursuing dead-end leads. Before investing hours in nurturing a prospect, run a quick background check to verify:

• The phone number is active and not disconnected
• The contact's name matches the phone number owner
• The person's location aligns with your target market
• The individual has connections to the company they claim to represent

Sales teams using systematic verification report 30-40% improvements in conversion rates by eliminating fake leads before they enter the pipeline. Combine phone verification with Galadon's B2B Company Finder to validate both the individual and their organization.

Recruitment and Candidate Screening

Recruiters face unique challenges with phone number verification. Candidates provide contact information, but verifying it's legitimate helps identify resume fraud and ensures you can actually reach candidates throughout the hiring process.

For recruitment purposes:

• Verify candidate phone numbers match their stated location
• Cross-reference phone numbers with LinkedIn profiles to confirm identity
• Check if numbers are personal mobile lines or VoIP services (which might indicate candidates trying to hide their location)
• Document verification for compliance purposes

Remember that if your background check goes beyond basic phone verification into employment history or criminal records, you likely need FCRA-compliant services and candidate consent.

Fraud Prevention and Security

Security teams use phone number background checks as one layer of fraud prevention. When investigating suspicious accounts or potential security threats:

• Check if phone numbers are newly activated (higher fraud risk)
• Verify numbers match claimed geographic locations
• Look for patterns of numbers associated with the same addresses or identities
• Flag VoIP numbers that might indicate anonymity-seeking behavior

Phone verification works best as part of a comprehensive fraud prevention stack. Combine it with email verification, IP address analysis, and device fingerprinting for robust security.

Building an Accurate Verification Workflow

For sales teams, recruiters, and others who regularly need to verify contacts, establishing a consistent workflow maximizes accuracy while minimizing time spent per lookup:

1. Quick check: Start with free methods (social search, Google) to gather context
2. Primary lookup: Run the number through a dedicated background check tool
3. Verify the email: If you have an email, confirm it's valid and matches the background check results
4. Score the confidence: Based on how many data points align, rate your confidence in the result
5. Document and proceed: Log your findings for compliance and make contact

This workflow typically takes 5-10 minutes per contact but prevents the wasted time and embarrassment of pursuing inaccurate leads.

Creating Standard Operating Procedures

Organizations running regular background checks benefit from documented procedures:

Define verification tiers: Not every contact needs the same depth of verification. Create tiers based on risk and importance:

• Tier 1 (Basic): Quick phone number lookup for general inquiries
• Tier 2 (Standard): Phone lookup plus email verification for sales leads
• Tier 3 (Enhanced): Multi-source verification including social media for high-value prospects
• Tier 4 (Comprehensive): Full background check with address history and associate verification for partnerships or employment

Document findings consistently: Use templates that capture:

• Date and time of verification
• Sources checked (which tools and databases)
• Results from each source
• Confidence score (low, medium, high)
• Red flags or inconsistencies noted
• Actions taken based on results

Establish escalation procedures: Define when inconsistent results require additional investigation or management review. Create clear guidelines for when to reject contacts based on verification failures.

Train team members: Everyone running background checks should understand data sources, accuracy limitations, and how to interpret results. Regular training prevents misuse and ensures consistent quality.

Technology Solutions and Tool Integration

Integrating Background Checks into Your Tech Stack

Modern businesses don't run background checks in isolation-they integrate verification into their existing workflows. Consider how phone verification fits with:

CRM systems: Tools like Close allow you to enrich contact records automatically. Integrate background check data directly into contact profiles so sales teams see verification status without leaving their CRM.

Marketing automation: Platforms like AWeber benefit from verified phone numbers in contact lists. Clean data improves deliverability and reduces bounce rates when you expand to SMS marketing.

Lead generation tools: Services like Clay and Findymail can automatically verify phone numbers as part of your lead enrichment process, ensuring only high-quality contacts enter your pipeline.

Cold outreach platforms: Email and calling platforms like Smartlead, Instantly, and Lemlist perform better with verified contact data. Integrate phone verification to reduce wrong numbers and improve response rates.

API Integration for Scale

If you're running hundreds or thousands of background checks monthly, manual processes won't scale. Look for services offering API access that allows you to:

• Automatically verify phone numbers as they enter your system
• Batch process large contact lists efficiently
• Integrate verification results directly into your databases
• Set up automated workflows that flag suspicious results for review

Quality APIs provide JSON or XML responses with structured data, making integration straightforward for most development teams.

The Future of Phone Number Verification

Emerging Technologies and Trends

Phone number verification continues evolving as technology advances:

AI and machine learning: Modern background check services increasingly use AI to identify patterns and predict accuracy. Machine learning models can flag likely recycled numbers, detect inconsistent data across sources, and estimate confidence scores more accurately than rule-based systems.

Real-time carrier verification: New APIs are emerging that provide direct access to carrier subscriber data (with appropriate permissions), enabling real-time verification of current ownership rather than relying on aggregated databases.

Blockchain-based identity: Decentralized identity solutions may eventually allow individuals to control their phone number verification data, making background checks both more accurate and more privacy-preserving.

Behavioral analysis: Advanced systems analyze calling patterns, messaging behavior, and usage patterns to verify if a phone number belongs to a claimed individual, even without traditional background check data.

Privacy Regulations and Their Impact

Increasing privacy regulations worldwide affect how background check services operate. The EU's GDPR, California's CCPA, and similar laws in other jurisdictions limit data collection and give consumers more control over their information.

This trend toward privacy protection may reduce the amount of data available for background checks, making multi-source verification and cross-referencing even more critical. Services that rely on a single data source will struggle as privacy laws restrict data availability, while platforms aggregating many sources will maintain higher accuracy.

Troubleshooting Common Background Check Problems

When Background Checks Return No Results

Sometimes phone number lookups return nothing. This doesn't necessarily mean the number is fake-it could indicate:

• Very new number: Recently activated numbers haven't accumulated enough data trail yet
• Extreme privacy measures: Some people successfully keep their information off data broker lists
• VoIP or virtual number: Non-fixed VoIP numbers often lack background data
• International number: Most background check services focus on U.S. numbers; international lookups often fail

When facing no results, try alternative approaches like social media searches, reverse email lookups, or direct contact to request verification.

When Background Checks Return Too Many Results

The opposite problem-receiving dozens of potential matches-also occurs, especially with common names. Narrow results by:

• Adding geographic filters if your tool supports them
• Using age range estimates to eliminate unlikely matches
• Cross-referencing with any additional information you have (middle initial, employer, city)
• Checking social media profiles linked in results against what you know

When Results Seem Inaccurate or Conflicting

Conflicting information in background check reports signals problems. Address this by:

• Checking the date stamps on different pieces of information-older data may no longer apply
• Running checks on multiple services to see if results align
• Using the contact information provided to verify directly with the person
• Escalating to more comprehensive (paid) services that offer higher accuracy

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Free vs. Paid Background Checks

When Free Services Are Sufficient

Free phone number lookups work well for:

• Identifying unknown callers or spam numbers
• Basic verification of publicly-listed business numbers
• Initial screening of high volumes of low-value leads
• Personal curiosity about who called you

Free services provide enough information to make go/no-go decisions without financial investment.

When Paid Services Justify Their Cost

Invest in paid background checks when:

• Making high-value business decisions (hiring, partnerships, large sales)
• Requiring comprehensive data including address history and associates
• Needing legal-grade documentation for compliance purposes
• Processing enough volume that time savings justify subscription costs

Calculate the value of your time and the cost of mistakes. If verifying one contact saves you from pursuing a dead-end lead worth three hours of work, a $5 background check pays for itself immediately.

Making the Final Call

Running an accurate background check by phone number isn't about finding a magic tool that works 100% of the time-it's about using the right combination of methods to maximize your confidence in the results. Start with free verification, use a reliable background check tool like Galadon's Background Checker, cross-reference multiple data sources, and understand the limitations of any lookup service.

The professionals who get the best results aren't the ones with the most expensive tools-they're the ones who know how to verify, validate, and triangulate information from multiple sources. Build that skill, and you'll consistently outperform the average accuracy rates that frustrate so many users.

Remember that phone numbers represent just one piece of the identity verification puzzle. The most reliable verification workflows combine phone lookups with email verification, social media validation, and company research. Tools like Galadon's Email Verifier, Mobile Number Finder, and Background Checker work together to build comprehensive contact profiles that minimize false positives and maximize confidence.

Whether you're a sales professional qualifying leads, a recruiter vetting candidates, or someone trying to identify an unknown caller, mastering phone number background checks pays dividends in time saved, better decisions, and risks avoided. Start with the fundamentals covered in this guide, develop your verification workflow, and continuously refine your approach based on results. The investment in building proper verification habits will serve you throughout your career.