What can a scammer do with my Google Voice verification code?

Never provide anyone with your Google Voice verification code. Upon receiving this code, the scammer can use your phone number to create a Google Voice account for themselves linked to your number .

What to do if someone sends you a Google Voice verification code?

Start by getting your number back: Once you receive an automated call or text with the six-digit code, visit https://voice.google.com/settings and add a new linked number . If the scammer is still using your number, Google will ask if you want to claim it and unlink it from the scammer's account.

Should I respond to a Google verification code?

To prevent unwanted access to your account, it's important you don't reply to any requests for your verification code . Google employees will never ask for this code. Remember that good security practices are critical to the integrity of your Google Account. Learn more at Keeping your account secure.

Can someone hack your phone with a verification code?

If you receive 2FA codes over SMS and hackers gain access to your phone, they can bypass your security . Instead, use an authenticator app, which requires stronger security measures, such as biometric identification.

Can someone steal my phone number with Google Voice?

Scammers usually steal phone numbers by posing as interested buyers and sellers in online marketplaces . Then they try to convince you to share your Google verification code in order to attach your phone number to a Google Voice account.

How do I contact Google Voice customer service?

If Customer is unhappy with Google Voice, Customer should contact Google Voice Customer Care at https://support.google.com/a/contact/gsuite_voice_complaints . Once your complaint is submitted to Google Voice Customer Care, the team will endeavour to resolve your complaint within 10 working days.

How do I cancel Google Voice?

Cancel a subscription Sign in to your Google Admin console. ... In the Admin console, go to Menu Billing. ... Click Google Voice. Click More Cancel Subscription . ... Choose a reason for leaving and then click Continue. Review the cancellation details and if you agree, check the confirmation box. More items...

What if a scammer has my phone number?

Once scammers know your number, they can target you with phishing texts and calls, or trick you into downloading malware and giving up personal information . And once they gain access to your personally identifiable information (PII), it doesn't take much more to access your financial (and other sensitive) accounts.

How do I know if my number is linked to Google Voice?

Sign in to your Google Account. Under Account, the number listed is your Voice number . If no Voice number is shown, it means Voice isn't set up for this Google Account. If you want to add Voice to a personal account, click Choose.

How do I delete all Google Voice spam?

Here's what you need to do: Open Google Voice. Navigate to Messages by tapping the message icon. Open the conversation that you want to delete messages from. Press and hold a message that you want to remove, then select other messages by tapping on them. Tap the trashcan icon. Tap Delete to confirm. Dec 1, 2018

Why does Google want me to verify?

This is Google's approach to provide multi-layered security. Google uses this to help protect your account against damage that a hacker might cause . With this protection, even if a hacker gets your personal details or login info, they'll still face a challenge before they complete any sensitive actions on your account.

Why is Google asking for verification code every time?

Without setting up 2-step verification, hackers could get into your account if they figured out your password . With 2-step verification enabled, they would need the password and physical control of your phone, your wallet or purse, or your actual computer.

Google Voice Verification Code Scam [Recognize & Avoid] (2024)

by Hendrik Human

Last Updated: February 2, 2023

Scamming and hacking have become quite common as many people increase their digital presence online. Out of all the illegal activities out there, the Google voice verification code scam is one of the most popular.

Whether you’ve fallen victim to this scam, or just want to remain aware of it, we’re going to talk about what it is, how it works, and answer frequently asked questions about it. By the end of this article, you will become more digitally secured; stay diligent, and this shouldn’t happen to you!

What Is the Google Voice Verification Code Scam?

Before understanding how people scam through Google Voice, you need to know what exactly the feature is. Google Voice allows you to make and receive free calls and texts in the US, as well as internationally. It also allows call forwarding. All these free attributes make it an attractive alternative to regular phone calls.

Fraud occurs when scammers hack your Google Voice account through your phone number. Google sends out six-digit codes to verify identities, and if a hacker gets ahold of it, they can take control of your account. There are several reasons why someone might partake in the Google Voice code scam; many use other accounts to successfully place calls under a different persona, a common sign of catfishing, and often leads to identity theft. They also perform illegal or fraudulent activity by making questionable phone calls.

While you may think that hackers only want access to accounts owned by rich people, that is not necessarily the case. Taking control of regular accounts is more common. This is because criminals only need a code to gain control, and a lot of people give it away naively without thinking twice about the repercussions.

How Does the Google Voice Scam Work?

Scammers usually use Craigslist ads for their activities, which is a website that allows people to list products or services for selling online; scammers use the web service to receive phone numbers from people. Criminals will call sellers as interested buyers pretending to be interested in their ads, or take it a step further and call as an employee from Craigslist. While on the phone, they’ll ask you for the verification code sent by Google to confirm your identity. If you share the code, consider your Google Voice account a problem.

We know this sounds easy, but you don’t need to be tech savvy to figure this fraud out. Your accounts can easily be hacked by sharing a simple code, and many people fall victim to it. Some also believe that it is harmless to share their Google code since it is not associated with any monetary accounts, which is not the case.

DID YOU KNOW? Based on voice search statistics, about a third of the U.S. population uses Google Assistant. This can make them more vulnerable to any scam attacks.

How to Avoid the Google Voice Verification Code Scam

As the saying goes, preventions go farther than cures; avoiding being scammed through Google is much better than trying to retrieve your hijacked phone in the aftermath. With that said, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Do not share the Google verification code sent to your phone with anyone. If hackers don’t know your code, they (most likely) won’t be able to access your information.
Always confirm the legitimacy of the customer if you’re a seller online, and keep an eye out for anyone with a fake account on websites like Craigslist.
While doing business online, don’t be in a hurry to sell. Take your time and verify the identity of the buyer.
Do not share your personal information on the Internet, as this makes you open to being taken advantage of.
Create complicated passwords for all your accounts, and make an effort to change them frequently.

DID YOU KNOW? Just like your Google security code, never share your OTPs (one time passwords) unless you’re 100% sure who the other person is. This simple measure can protect you from a lot down the line.

Key Takeaways

Google voice scams have risen in popularity. This attack occurs when a scammer gets into your Google voice account.
Many scammers will find a phone number to contact through Craigslist ads, convincing the person on the other end that they’re a genuine buyer. They will then ask for the person’s Google verification code.
Once you give away your code, your account gets busted!
Hackers can use your hacked account to commit identity theft, make fraudulent calls, or hack other phone numbers as well.
It is very important to not share your code with anyone. You should also verify the identity of the person calling you, and not share any personal information.

How to Retrieve Your Hijacked Phone Number

If you’ve fallen victim to a Google verification code scam, you must reclaim your number as soon as possible. You can hire ID protection companies to assist, send an email to Google support, or follow one of the two methods below:

The first process involves reclaiming your Google voice account. This can be done if you’ve never used your hacked Google voice account.

Visit Google Voice and select the Google voice number.
Press ‘Verify’ to verify your phone number.
This will take you to another link. Type in your hacked phone number again, and press ‘Send code’.
If your number is hacked, you will receive a warning that the number is already being used, and will be asked to reclaim it.
Click ‘Yes’ and your stolen account will be retrieved.

Another method to recover from a Google verification code text scam is to use another phone number. It can be anyone’s number, but make sure they’re there when you do this as you will need it to validate your account. This number should not have a Google Voice account.

First, visit Google Voice to create a new account.
Press ‘Verify’ to verify your phone number.
For the next verification, type in the phone number you’re trying to retrieve
Press ‘Send code’.
After you’ve received a Google verification code in a text message, type it into the website’s command box.
Once the account has been created, go to your settings and add your hacked number.
Google Voice will inform you that the number is already being used, and you’ll be asked to reclaim it.
Press ‘Yes’ and your account will be yours again.

After reclaiming your account, make sure to send an email to Google about your Google Voice code hack. This will not only ensure that the hacker doesn’t get hold of your account again, but also that they are aware of the issue. Make sure to also remove the other number from your account that you used to help get it back.

DID YOU KNOW? Google statistics show that 20% of Google searches are done by voice command. This number is likely to increase in the future, though, as more people switch to using this application.

Conclusion

Scammers can easily hack phone numbers through Google Voice. The scam involves hijacking your phone number and using it for fraudulent activities. In order to prevent this, you should never share your Google verification code with anyone. However, if your phone number is hacked, you can retrieve it by following simple steps. You can also send an email to Google support to help you in the process. Good luck!