logo
welcome
Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest

Here’s how to avoid Google Voice scams and other two-factor authentication scams

Reader's Digest
Summary
Nutrition label

56% Informative

The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a formal warning to consumers about the scam in January 2022 .

Google Voice provides free U.S. phone numbers, allowing users to make calls and send messages via the web or any mobile device.

Scammers can then use the Google Voice number to perpetrate more scams, which will be traced back to you.

If someone is preying on your emotions, pressuring you to hurry or offering something too good to be true, take a step back and reassess what’s happening.

Don’t list your real phone number. Set up a Google Voice number yourself and give that one to people instead.

Never, ever give a verification code to anyone for any reason. Turn on two -factor authentication.

VR Score

30

Informative language

13

Neutral language

55

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

37

Offensive language

possibly offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

External references

29

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/portland/news/press-releases/oregon-fbi-tech-tuesday-building-a-digital-defense-against-google-voice-authentication-scamshttps://www.rd.com/article/gift-card-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/cash-app-scams/https://www.rd.com/list/best-free-password-manager/https://www.rd.comhttps://www.rd.com/article/romance-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/offerup-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/car-extended-warranty-calls/https://www.rd.com/article/amazon-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/wire-fraud/https://truefort.com/https://www.rd.com/article/spoofing/https://www.rd.com/article/fake-qr-code/https://www.rd.com/article/venmo-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/facebook-marketplace-scams/https://www.fox26houston.com/news/google-voice-scam-nearly-half-of-complaints-to-itrchttps://nordlocker.com/https://www.rd.com/article/things-hackers-can-do-with-just-your-cell-phone-number/https://www.rd.com/list/phone-call-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-two-factor-authentication/https://www.rd.com/newsletter/?int_source=direct&int_medium=rd.com&int_campaign=nlrda_20221001_topperformingcontentnlsignup&int_placement=incontenthttps://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/10/google-voice-scam-how-verification-code-scam-works-and-how-avoid-ithttps://www.rd.com/article/google-voice-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/zelle-scams/https://www.rd.com/list/how-to-avoid-online-scams/https://support.google.com/voice/answer/159519?hl=enhttps://www.rd.com/list/bank-scams/https://www.rd.com/article/ai-scam/https://www.rd.com/article/good-passwords/

Affiliate links

no affiliate links