Google allows its users to place free calls from Gmail. But when a person receives a call, it will appear to have come from a random shared number that the recipient will not recognize.
Despite its good uses, many people have reported receiving unsolicited calls from Google. So, what is a Google subscriber number, and how does it work?
If you are using Google Voice, you can sign up for a phone number. You will receive the phone number for free and use it for calls, voicemails, and text messages.
Once you get it, you can link it to any landline or mobile number and even give it out as a regular number to your friends and family members.
When one of your contacts leaves you a voicemail, Google will translate it to text and email you the contents. The number is what people refer to as the Google subscriber number.
Here is more information about it, including reported scams, how to look it up, report, and trace the number.
How the Google subscriber number works
A Google subscriber number allows you to:
- Make international calls at affordable rates.
- Send text messages from your mobile phone or computer.
- Read your voicemail and search through it like email.
- Personalize your voicemail greetings.
The service also protects you from spam calls.
How do you get the Google subscriber number?
You can sign up for Google Voice and get your subscriber number using the following steps:
- Go to voice.google.com from your computer.
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Tap Continue.
- Search by area code or city for a number.
- Next to your preferred number, click on Select.
Follow the instructions to set up voice and link another phone number.
How to find your Google Voice number
To find your Google Voice number:
- Go to voice.google.com.
- Enter your Gmail address and password linked to Google Voice.
- Sign in to access your Google Voice account.
You will see your number at the top-right corner of your screen. It is a 10-digit number that appears in bold font.
What is the Google subscriber number scam?
Google subscriber number scam is a fraudulent activity that happens when a scammer hijacks your phone number and uses it to create a Google Voice account under your name.
The person will then conduct their unlawful activities by scamming other people in your name and remain discrete. Most victims of the scam tend to display their phone numbers in public, especially on the internet.
Once a scammer obtains the number, they will get in touch. Next, they will ask a victim to open a message containing a 6-digit number. It will reveal a Google Voice Code Verification number.
When signing up for Google Voice, you will have to add a phone number to your account. Google uses it to send a text message with a verification code.
The code is useful in activating Google Voice on your preferred phone. If the scammer gets a hold of the code, they will hijack the victim’s number.
How to perform a Google subscriber number lookup
The steps for performing a Google subscriber number lookup are not straightforward. But there are some things you can do to determine the person that called you.
- Go to google.com.
- Enter the phone number in the search bar and press enter.
If the number is familiar to other people, they may have reported it and posted it to online forums and other sites. You will get the details from the Google search results.
How to trace a Google subscriber number
If you want to trace a Google voice number, you will need to use an online directory. Some recommended options include AnyWho and WhitePages.
You will have to enter the phone number in the directory. Once the search is complete, you will get details about the number that may include the name and the company issuing the VoIP number to Google Voice users.
However, there is no guarantee it will work 100% because Google assigns random numbers to its subscribers.
How to protect yourself from Google subscriber scam
Here are the steps to follow to protect yourself from scams:
1. Protect your verification code
Do not share your verification code with anybody. Also, avoid replying to requests for the code.
2. Block unwanted callers
Here are the steps for blocking unwanted callers:
- Go to voice.google.com on a PC.
- Go to your voicemail or call log to locate the number.
- Click on the number you want to block.
- Click on the three dots to the right of the number.
- Choose Block Number.
- Click Confirm.
Once blocked, you will not receive messages or calls from the user.
3. Turn on screen calling
Screen calling is a feature that allows you to screen calls to hear the caller’s name before answering their call. That will give you the option to accept the call or send it to voicemail. To turn the feature on:
- Go to voice.google.com.
- Click Settings.
- Click Calls.
- Turn on Screen Calls.
After turning the option on, you will listen to callers as they leave their messages and opt to hang up. Alternatively, you can talk to them once you verify their identities or intent.
4. Report the caller
Google investigates complaints of scams and fraud that they receive from various sources. If you want to report a Google subscriber number, you cannot do it directly to Google.
However, you can file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center if the person has created a Gmail address to impersonate your identity.
You can also contact the Office of Consumer Protection in your state.
Conclusion
A Google subscriber number is a number you get for using Google Voice. It allows you to make calls, send text messages, and receive voice calls. But people have been using the service for fraudulent activities.
If you receive a phone call from Google, ensure it is from a trusted person, or do not disclose your personal information. Alternatively, consider blocking the number if it is bothering you.
Related Guides
