Examples of fraudulent "verification" messages are shown below: ⚠️ Warning signs and red flags 🚩 Public post visibility: moderators will contact you in private messages or directly using the email you signed up with (such as automated notifications about suspensions). It would be unprofessional to conduct moderation-related user-to-user communications in public.Link to an entirely different website: all Mastodon settings and features are built-in using the domain of your instance. If a supposedly-official message directs you to another website, that should raise your suspicion."Please do not reply": moderators will always be prepared to explain to you and open for questions if something is unclear. The only automated messages are notification emails, which are sent to the email address you signed up with. — Amber @amberage, moderator