Why it's important to check your wallet address manually

In cryptocurrency transfers, petty inattention is expensive. One wrong symbol - and the transaction is gone forever. Even with built-in checksum checks, the responsibility for the endpoint lies with the sender. Below is why manual address verification is critical and how to make it part of your routine.

1) Why "just pasting from the buffer" is dangerous

Clipboard steelers. The malware changes the copied address to the attacker's address. Outside - everything is "as usual," inside - someone else's props.

QR substitution. Phishing sites and fake bots slip QR with someone else's address/invoice.

Similar characters (homoglyph). In ENS/domains and some fonts, the characters may look the same.

Address poisoning. The attacker sends you a "speck of dust" from an address similar to yours/the counterparty, so that out of habit you copy it from history.

AutoCorrect/Contacts. Instant messengers and some wallets offer "similar" addresses or old auto-saved records.

Conclusion: automation is convenient, but does not protect against deliberate substitution. Human verification is needed.

2) What exactly needs to be checked (and how)

1. First and last characters. Check at least the first 4-6 and last characters of the address string ('0x... '/' bc1... '/' T... '/etc.).

2. Network/token standard. Make sure that the recipient's network and the wallet are the same: ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20, Arbitrum, Optimism, Solana, TON, etc.

3. Address type. EVM ('0x...') vs Tron ('T...') vs BTC (Bech32 'bc1...', P2SH '3...', Legacy '1...') - formats differ.

4. Memo/Tag/Payment ID. For XRP/XLM/BNB, exchange deposits is a required field. Its absence = risk of loss.

5. Invoice disposability. Lightning/BOLT11/LNURL - disposable and live minutes; obsolete invoices are invalid.

6. Contract vs EOA (EVM networks). Do not send to the contract address unless otherwise provided; check the "Contract "/" Externally Owned Account "in the browser.

7. ENS/human names. Allow only in trusted wallets, check reverse record and domain.

3) Manual verification checklist before shipment

• Address taken from bookmark/official app, not chat/search.
• The first/last 4-6 characters of the address match what the recipient shows.
• The correct token network is selected and supported by the recipient.
• Memo/Tag is specified for exchanges/coins with additional parameters.
• In doubt - test transfer $5- $20 and pending enrollment.
• On the stock exchange, a whitelist of addresses with a delay for addition is included.
• Device clean: 2FA (TOTP/U2F), no unnecessary extensions, updates from official sources.

4) How to build an "error-free translation system"

Labels and address book. Save the verified addresses as "Contacts" with friendly names ("Exchange-output USDT-ERC20").

Hardware confirmation. For significant amounts, confirm the address on the screen of the hardware wallet - it shows the actually signed data.

Only QR from your office. Scan the code from the official application/personal account, do not take pictures of screens from chats.

Purse splitting. Operational hot for frequent payments, cold for storage - even if you make a mistake, the damage is limited.

Transaction log. Fix the date, network, address, amount and tx-hash - will help with disputes and investigations.

Double check for large sums. Two watch - one sends. Either "four eyes "/2-of-3 politics in multisig.

5) Frequent thin places

Old deposit addresses of exchanges. Sites sometimes change their address pool; generate the address again before sending.

Bridges and cross chain. Use official breeches; check the target network and token contract.

Commission and RBF. For L1 networks, enable RBF to have a chance of speeding up a stalled translation; this is not a cancellation, but reduces operational risks.

Similar domains/bots. Bookmark pages, not Google them every time.

Address poisoning. Do not copy addresses from your inbox history - take from your address book.

6) What to do if in doubt

1. Stop. Don't send. Check the address/network again.

2. Test. Make a micropayment and wait for enrollment.

3. Contact with recipient. Request confirmation of details via the second channel (mail/messenger from the profile).

4. Checking in browser. For ENS/Contracts - ensure name and address type resolution is correct.

5. Antivirus/scan. If there are signs of substitution, check the system, change passwords, temporarily work from another device.

7) Mini-FAQ

Is it enough to check only the last 4 characters? Better - first and last 4-6. Some attacks aim precisely at the coincidence of the "tail."

Checksum will protect? It catches random errors, but does not protect against deliberate substitution with a valid other address.

Can I send via ENS/Lightning Address without checking? Only if the domain/address is in your contacts and has already been checked by a test transfer.

If the address is similar to my past counterparty address - can I trust? No, it isn't. It can be "poisoning." Use saved contact.

Manual address reconciliation is not bureaucracy, but the last barrier between you and an irretrievable mistake. Take 10-20 seconds to it: check the first/last characters, network and memo, use the address book and test translations. These simple steps reduce the likelihood of losing funds from "probably" to almost zero, even if you transfer frequently and on different networks.