Google Voice Scam: Scammers Want to Steal Your Phone Number

Google Voice is a freemium phone service by Google that enables calling, forwarding, voicemail, and messaging over an internet connection. 

The Google Voice Scam exploits user's ignorance of how the verification system actually works. The scam is mostly associated with Craigslist users but scammers will use any means to get your personal phone number. Keep it secure while you shop or work online on marketplace sites like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and more. Only share your phone number with those you trust.

Reports show that scammers pose as interested buyers and convince you to give them your phone number. Once you do, they set up a Google Voice account using your phone number for their own fraudulent ends. 

How Does the Google Voice Scam Work?

• The scammer gets your number from a listing you have put up that includes your contact details. 
• Calls you expressing interest in what you are selling.
• Wants to ‘verify’ that the phone number actually belongs to you.
• Asks you to send the verification code that’s just been sent to your phone, to verify that you're 'not a scammer'.
• You send the verification code to the scammer.
• The scammer now has a verified Google Voice account with your name and number to use for their fraudulent activities.

At the point that the scammer asked for the verification code, they were in the process of setting up a Google Voice account in your name using your number. To verify that the number is real and active, Google sent the code to your phone. The scammer needed the code to complete the process.

By sending them the code, you have unknowingly enabled the scammer to finish the set up on Google Voice. They will then use your number for their own scams. Anyone who looks the number up will get your details as the owner.

For instance, a pet seller from Facebook suffered a loss of business to this scam. The scammers would get calls from genuine customers who were looking for pets. They would then try and get them to send money to a PayPal account. Some clients felt something was off and complained on the page. That's when the seller realized his phone number had been compromised and took steps to recover.

How Do You Recover Your Stolen Google Voice Number?

The good thing about Google is that they usually have security measures for recovering accounts. You can recover your number immediately after you realize it's been compromised. Here's how:

• Log into your Google Voice account. If you didn’t have one, just create it. It is simple!
• Select personal use as your option
• Choose your platform correctly whether iOS, Android, or Web
• Finish the set-up by following prompts
• Click Continue
• Set up the Two-Step verification using another number that you can access. Even if only temporarily till you finish the recovery process. This is very important. That number has to be free from any other Google Voice account or this will not work.
• Log into your account and click add another phone.
• Enter the stolen number. You will get a warning message from Google that the number is in use.
• Next, you will then be asked to reclaim it. Click 'Yes'.

Your phone number is now reclaimed! DO NOT respond to individuals you don’t know with any personal verification details. Scammers do this often to steal your identity, even if only part of it.