By BECKY RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos

You might think just selling items on Facebook Marketplace is safe, but think again … it’s just one more way scammers can steal your personal information. 

An older scam is making the rounds … it exploits Google Voice authentication codes to try to set up a fake account using your information.

How does it work? 

Let’s say I’ve decided to sell my old cat tree on Facebook Marketplace because dang it all, my cats have absolutely wrecked it. It’s pretty beat up, I’m just asking $25. I immediately get bombarded with messages about it.

One person is asking me if I’m for real, and how can they know they can trust me? They really want to buy it, but they just don’t trust I’m real and want my phone number to send me a Google verification code to make sure I’m not a scammer. 

At this point, you will receive a text from Google, that might look something like this:

It is indeed a real verification code from Google … because the scammer has just taken your phone number and used it to set up a new, untraceable number with Google Voice. If you are so kind as to give them that code, they have everything they need to get the new number set up.

What’s the end game here, why bother? The scammer can now use that new Google Voice number to rip off other people and hide their identity. Or the scammers might be after a Google Voice verification code and other information about you. If they get enough of your personal information, they could use this to pretend to be you to access your accounts or open new accounts in your name. The possibilities are endless. 

If anyone on Facebook Marketplace claims they need to send you a verification code to buy your item, it’s a scam. Block and report them. If by chance you have already given a scammer a verification code, there is a process with Google to reclaim your number, which can be found here. For additional info on this, check out the FTC article here.  

Any online transaction can be risky, even something as simple as trying to sell an item can get you scammed. Be cautious, and avoid giving out your personal information, and NEVER give out a Google, or any other, verification code to an unknown person. You could end up with a lot more than you bargained for!

Editor’s note: Becky Rutherford works in information technology at Los Alamos National Laboratory.