Here’s a straightforward method for two individuals to remotely verify each other’s identities, ensuring that neither party is a digital counterfeit.

To reduce that risk, I have created this uncomplicated solution that allows you to establish a distinct time-based one-time passcode (TOTP) between any two individuals.

This is how it functions:

1. Two individuals, Person A and Person B, position themselves in front of the same computer and access this webpage;
2. They enter their respective names (for instance, Alice and Bob) on the same page, and click “Generate”;
3. The page will produce two TOTP QR codes, one designated for Alice and the other for Bob;
4. Alice and Bob scan the corresponding QR codes into a TOTP mobile application (such as Authy or Google Authenticator) on their individual smartphones;
5. Later, when Alice converses with Bob via phone or video call and wishes to confirm Bob’s identity, she requests Bob to share the 6-digit TOTP code from the mobile app. If the code corresponds with what Alice has on her phone, she gains greater assurance that she is communicating with the genuine Bob.

Simple and ingenious.