Is This Google Voice Verification Code Request a Scam?

Google Voice scams target people selling items on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other platforms. The 'buyer' asks for a verification code to 'verify you're real' — this lets them hijack your phone number.

About this scam type: Someone asking you to share a Google Voice code sent to your phone

ScamRadar verdict: scam · Risk score: 96/100

Red flags to watch for

What to do right now

  1. Never share any verification code sent to your phone with anyone
  2. Hang up or stop communicating if asked for a code
  3. Report to Google at g.co/reportfraud
  4. If compromised, visit voice.google.com to reclaim your number

Real example of a Google Voice verification code scam

Buyer (Facebook Marketplace): Hi, I want to buy your couch but I've been scammed before. To verify you're a real person, I'm going to send you a Google verification code to your number — just text me back the 6-digit code so I know it's really you.

Sharing that 6-digit code lets the scammer create a Google Voice number tied to your real phone number, which they then use to scam other people while you take the blame.

What if you already clicked or paid?

If you already shared the code, immediately go to voice.google.com and check whether a Google Voice number was created using your phone. Reclaim your number at voice.google.com/u/0/settings — there is a 'Reclaim your number' link that removes any Google Voice account using your phone. Then change your Google account password, enable two-factor authentication, and review recent activity for unauthorized access. File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov so the scammer's pattern is on record. Block the buyer on the platform where you were contacted and report their account so they can't do this to others.

How to verify it's actually legitimate

There is no legitimate reason for any buyer or seller on any marketplace to need a verification code from your phone. Marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and Mercari verify users through their own systems, never by asking you to share a code. Real Google Voice verification codes are only sent to people setting up their own Google Voice number — if you receive one without setting up Google Voice yourself, someone is trying to claim your number for their account.

People also ask

What is the Google Voice verification code scam?

A scammer asks you to share a 6-digit code that Google texts to your phone. That code is the verification needed to attach your phone number to a Google Voice account in the scammer's name. They then use the Google Voice number for scams while law enforcement traces it back to you.

Why do scammers want a Google Voice number?

Google Voice numbers tied to a real US phone number are valuable for running other scams, romance fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes — they look more legitimate than VoIP numbers and can pass basic verification on dating apps, marketplaces, and crypto exchanges.

I shared the code — what now?

Go to voice.google.com/u/0/settings and click 'Reclaim your number' to remove any Google Voice account using your phone. Change your Google password, enable two-factor authentication, and report the original buyer on the marketplace so they can't do this to others.

Will a real buyer ever need a verification code from me?

No legitimate marketplace transaction requires you to share a verification code with the buyer or seller. Marketplaces verify users through their own internal systems. Any request for a code is a scam.

How do I report a Google Voice scam?

Report on the marketplace where contacted (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp). File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Report the Google Voice number itself at support.google.com/voice if it's being used to scam others.

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Last reviewed: 2026-06-24 by the ScamRadar editorial team. We update this page when scammer tactics change or when official agencies issue new guidance.

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