Google Voice Scam

Courtesy of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission

How Scams Work – A SCARS Insight

The Google Voice Scam: How This Verification Code Scam Works And How To Avoid It

It’s Cyber Security Awareness month – September, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds, including Google Voice. If there’s one constant among scammers, it’s that they’re always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. Have you heard about it? Here’s how it works.

Scammers target people who post things for sale on sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. They also prey on people who post looking for help finding their lost pet. Then they plan on using this Google Voice scam.

The scammers contact you and say they want to buy the item you’re selling — or that they found your pet. But before they commit to buying your item, or returning your pet, they feign hesitation. They might say they’ve heard about fake online listings and want to verify that you’re a real person. Or they might say they want to verify that you’re the pet’s true owner.

They send you a text message with a Google Voice verification code and ask you for that code. If you give them the verification code, they’ll try to use it to create a Google Voice number linked to your phone number. (Google Voice gives you a phone number that you can use to make calls or send text messages from a web browser or a mobile device.)

How It Works

How Does the Google Voice Verification Code Scam Work?

Google Voice scams occur when fraudsters link a Google Voice number to your phone number. All they need is a unique verification code that they get from you. This allows scammers to forward all calls and texts made to your phone to a number that they control.

So, what’s the harm?

The scammer might use that number to rip off other people and conceal their identity. Sometimes these scammers are after a Google Voice verification code and other information about you. If they get enough of your information, they could pretend to be you to access your accounts or open new accounts in your name.

If you gave someone a Google Voice verification code follow these steps from Google to reclaim your number – click here!

No matter what the story is, don’t share your Google Voice verification code — or any verification code — with someone if you didn’t contact them first. That’s a scam, every time.

SCARS Resources:

Getting Started Right: ScamVictimsSupport.org
Sextortion Scam Victims: Sextortion Victims Support – The Essentials (scamvictimssupport.org)
For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
Join our Scam Survivors United Chat & Discussion Group facebook.com/groups/scam.survivors.united
Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
Scammer photos ScammerPhotos.com
SCARS Videos youtube.AgainstScams.org
Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

Other Cyber Resources

Block Scam Domains: Quad9.net
Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org) https://act.globalcyberalliance.org/index.php/Actionable_Cybersecurity_Tools_(ACT)_-_Simplified_Cybersecurity_Protection
Wizer Cybersecurity Training – Free Security Awareness Training, Phishing Simulation and Gamification (wizer-training.com)

More:

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Google Voice Scam – How Scams Work