Method of Detecting Incomplete Instant Messaging Record Sets using Sequential Numbering

A method of verifying the authenticity of instant messages sent from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

• Proving a network configured to deliver instant messages between instant messaging devices, the network being operatively coupled to the internet;
• Providing an instant messaging application on an instant messaging device to both the sender and the recipient, the instant messaging devices being operatively coupled to the internet;
• The network and messaging applications configured to permit the sender and recipient to exchange instant messages, the instant messages each having a sender's address and a user-accessible field for receiving content, the content of the user-accessible field being visible to the recipient upon the instant message in the instant message application;
• Identifying the receiver for a message to be sent by the sender;
• generating a current sequence marker for the receiver, the current sequence marker representing a next sequence identifier in a sequence of instant messages between the sender and the receiver;
• inserting the current sequence marker into the user-accessible field of the instant message and then sending the instant message to the recipient, and
• wherein the sender queries an instant message history to generate the current sequence marker, the instant message history representing a record of instant messages previously sent from the sender to the recipient.