How does this scam work?

[dennis thompson]

I put some tools on Craigslist and almost immediately got two texts telling me to respond with a six digit code they sent me to make sure I am a " real person" I told them to just call me, no response. I assume this is a scam but how does it work?

[roger wiegand]

Found this description by Googling:

The scam:


You put your own personal telephone number (mobile or landline number) out in public somewhere (on a classified ad, or a dating website, or wherever).

Some scammer contacts you via text or email about your ad. They tell you a story about how they need you to prove you are real person, or a legitimate seller, not a bot, and, that they are using a special phone service that requires that you give them the six-digit code number that will be played to you by an automated verification call you will receive from Google, or via a text message.

The scammer is, in reality, going through the Google Voice setup process. They tell Google Voice to call your personal number, and then the call speaks the code, along with a warning to not share the code with anyone. Somehow, you ignore that explicit warning and give the scammer the code number. When you do that, THEY, not you, are issued a Google Voice number, using your personal number as the forwarding number for their account.

[Mike Henderson]

Thanks for posting that scam. I had not heard of it.

Mike