dpkg: error: --verify needs a valid package name . . .

[Albretch Mueller]

dpkg: error: --verify needs a valid package name but
'vlc_2.2.7-1~deb9u1_amd64.deb' is not: illegal package name in
specifier 'vlc_2.2.7-1~deb9u1_amd64.deb': character '~' not allowed
(only letters, digits and characters '-+._')
~
 lbrtchx