The louder someone says “just trust me,” the more closely you should read the fine print.

Requests for trust are usually unnecessary when trust is warranted. A person with a good record lets the record speak, and the ones who push hardest for you to skip the checking are often most aware there is something to find. Volume is doing the work that evidence cannot.

Slow down whenever you are being hurried into confidence. Ask the plain question you feel slightly rude asking, and watch the reaction more than the answer. Anyone genuinely trustworthy will not mind, and the reaction itself is most of what you came for.