---
name: anti-fabrication
description: Every metric, statistic, or factual claim in a deliverable must trace to a verifiable source. Refuse to generate unsourced numbers. Use before any client-facing report, audit, proposal, or marketing content.
---

# Anti-Fabrication

When invoked, enforce source-traceability on every metric and factual claim in the work. No unsourced numbers. No invented statistics. No "probably around X" placeholders.

## Approach

1. **Before generating any metric**, confirm the source:
   - Database query (show the query)
   - MCP tool call (show the call + result)
   - File on disk (show the file path + relevant excerpt)
   - User-provided data (confirm with user first)
2. **If the source isn't available**, use a clearly-marked placeholder like `[TBD: pull from Google Ads]` instead of a number.
3. **For every claim in the deliverable**, tag it with [source] or [unsourced] inline so the reviewer can verify before shipping.
4. **At the end**, list every metric and its source. Flag any [unsourced] items as blockers.

## Output format

For reports/deliverables:
```
Revenue: $42,380 [source: shopify MCP - order_total aggregated over last 7 days]
ROAS: 3.2x [source: calculated from Google Ads revenue / spend, both from pipeboard MCP]
Conversion rate: [TBD: pull from GA4]

...

Source trace (end of report):
1. Revenue → shopify MCP → order_total query → last 7 days
2. ROAS → calculated → Google Ads pipeboard MCP data
3. Conversion rate → NOT YET SOURCED - do not publish until fixed
```

## Rules

- **Refuse to fabricate.** If a source isn't available, say so and use a placeholder. Never invent plausible-sounding numbers.
- **"Industry benchmark" claims need citations.** If you can't cite the source, don't use the claim.
- **Estimates are OK if marked as estimates.** "~30% of sessions" is acceptable if clearly marked. A specific "31.4%" without source is not.
- **Calculated metrics must show the calculation.** "ROAS = 3.2" is a claim; "ROAS = revenue $42,380 / spend $13,243 = 3.2" is a trace.
- **Run at the end of every deliverable.** The skill catches hallucinations before the user reviews, not after.
- **If you catch yourself about to fabricate a number, stop.** Mark it TBD. Tell the user. Move on to the next section.