Noteworthy, you should only delete the number if you want to stop using Google Voice permanently or for any other personal reasons. However, if you intend to continue using the service, deleting Google Voice may not be the best thing to do.

Instead, you can use alternative options that won’t result in losing your Google Voice number for good. You can opt to:

• Change your Google Voice number
• Unlink your phone number from your Google Voice account
• Transfer your number from Google Voice

How to unlink your Google Voice number

Follow this guide to unlink a Google Voice number from the phone number used for verification:

• Click on Menu, which is on the top left of Google Voice
• Move to Settings, then select Linked Numbers
• Tap on the X that appears next to the number

Your will have unlinked your number instantly. However, if you still want to deactivate Google Voice, note that there is no other method other than deleting your phone number. 

Deleting your Google Voice number

Before deleting your Google Voice Number, you need to be sure you no longer want to use the number. If you are certain that you want to delete it, you can proceed by following the steps we’ve provided below.

But before you start, here is what you need to know:

• Your Google Voice number can’t be deleted if you paid for it to be transferred or if you are using it with Sprint.
• Messages in your inbox won’t be deleted when you delete your Google Voice number.

Now, to delete your Google Voice number:

• Visit voice.google.com on your computer and sign in to your Google Voice account
• Click on Menu on the left, then select Settings
• Select Voicemail on the left
• Beside your linked number, uncheck the box next to Get voicemail via message
• Click Account on the left side
• Below your Google Voice number, select Delete. Don’t worry if Google Voice looks different, you’re in the right place
• Beside your Google Voice number, click Delete 
• Select Proceed to confirm, and your Google Voice number will be deleted

What happens when you delete the number?

Once you’ve deleted your Google Voice number, you are given a grace period of 90 days to claim it back. If you decide to claim your number back, follow these steps:

• Sign in to Google Voice.
• Select Menu
• Click on Legacy Google Voice
• Select Get your old number back
• Add a linked number

Nothing much can be done after the 90 days have elapsed and you haven’t claimed your old number. It is because the number is recycled then assigned to someone else.

Can you delete a Google Voice number and get a new one?

Yes. Once your previous Google Voice number has been permanently deleted, you will have to get a new Voice number for you to use the service.

You can do away with your Google Voice number by simply deleting it on your iPhone or Android device.

But, before deleting it, it’s essential to know that your Google Voice number won’t be deleted if you paid for it to be transferred or using if you’re using Sprint. Also, deleting your Voice number will not delete your inbox messages.

If you intend to continue using the service, you can change your number, unlink it from your mobile number or transfer it from Google Voice instead of deleting it.

Once you’ve deleted your Voice number, you are given a grace period of 90 days to reclaim it before it’s permanently deleted. You may have to get a new number after it has been deleted for you to use the service.

Related guides

• Received Google verification code text without requesting?
• What is a Google subscriber number? Everything you should know
• Fix: Google Assistant routines not working
• What is a Google verification code?

The post How to delete a Google Voice Number appeared first on AppDrum.

A Google Verification Code is a short numeric code. Google sends it to its subscribers via email or phone. Its primary function is to verify your identity or prove you are the owner of an account.

So, does Google send random verification code texts?

No. Ideally, you should not be receiving a verification code at random. You only get it after requesting it from Google. In most cases, you will see the numeric code in your email if you cannot log into your account. You will also get it if you have made changes to your account.

But if you receive a Google verification code email without requesting it, the best explanation is somebody is trying to access your account. It could also be due to a glitch in the Gmail software, but this is highly unlikely.

Why you may have received Google verification code text without requesting

Here are more reasons why you may receive the code without asking for it.

1. Google has detected suspicious sign-in attempts

When you sign in to Gmail, Google will want to ensure you are the one logging into the account. In that case, the service will ask you to complete several sign-in steps. That can happen if:

• Somebody else is signing in from a location where you often do not sign in.
• Somebody is using a device you have not used before.

The extra step includes entering a verification code. Google will send it to your phone by text.

2. Somebody has made changes to your account

In some cases, a person may sign in to your account successfully. When that happens, they may try to change some details in your account.

That may include your password, verification email, verification phone number, or other security questions. You will get an email with the security code before the person can make any changes.

3. You have signed in to your account from an old device

Google will send you a verification code by text after signing in from an old device. But why did this happen? This can happen if you had deleted cookies from your browser.

Furthermore, you will receive the verification code by email if you updated your browser, app, or used the incognito mode before.

4. You changed the password on your account

If you recently changed the password on your account, Google will send you a verification code even if you did not request it.

You will also receive a sign-in alert so that you can take some action immediately.

5. You are using third-party applications

You may receive the code if you are using third-party applications or browser extensions.

Some of these software programs require you to log in to your Gmail account to access their services. Consider turning off any apps or browser extensions you are using.

6. Somebody is trying to get your Google Voice number

A scammer can obtain your phone number if you posted it online or in the public domain. They will then remove their forwarding phone number from their account.

The goal is to forward calls to your primary or personal phone number. But once they get your personal number, they will use it to create a Google account and get a new Google Voice number.

The scammer will then use it to scam others. But to complete the steps, they will send you a verification code. If you give it to them, you will lose control of your Google Voice number.

I received a Google verification code from an unknown number!

If an unknown number sends you the verification code, several things might have happened:

• Somebody is trying to scam you.
• Someone has entered your phone number incorrectly for the 2-Step Verification of their account.

If you receive the verification code from an unknown number, do not reply to it. Instead, consider signing in to your account and changing your password.

Even though you will get the code, Google will send it to your email immediately. Also, it will be in the format G-******.

What happens if someone gets your Google Verification code?

When someone gets your Google Verification code, the following will happen:

• The person will change your account password.
• The person will change your verification phone number.
• The person will change your verification email.
• You will lose your Google Voice

Eventually, you will lose control of your account. That includes all the data you had saved and emails from friends, family, or businesspeople.

Losing control of your account will mean the person will use it to scam you. For example, they will use the phone number and send you a message to solicit money from you to regain control of your account.

Alternatively, they will use your Google Voice number to scam other people. They may send emails to your contacts requesting them to send you cash because of an emergency you are facing.

How to avoid Google Verification code scams

You can avoid these scams by doing the following:

• Avoid displaying your phone number to the public. If it is necessary for business or other purposes, do not link it to your Google account.
• Ignore the message or consider deleting it.
• Change your account details. That includes your password, security questions, and verification email or phone number.
• Check the email or phone number and ensure it comes from Google.

You can also turn on 2-step verification on your account. Here is how:

• Go to your Google Account.
• Select Security in the navigation panel.
• Under Signing into Google, select 2-Step Verification.
• Select Get Started.

From this point, follow the on-screen steps to complete the process.

Understand that although the 2-Step Verification measure adds some security to your account, codes sent by calls or text are vulnerable to phone number-based hacks.

That is the primary reason you are receiving Google Verification code without requesting it.

Conclusion

I received a Google verification code but didn’t request it. If this has happened to you before, the reason could be someone is trying to access your account from an unknown location.

Also, you will get the code if you are signing in from a new or old device. In other cases, people get the code when they are changing their password or security details related to their accounts.

Related Guides

• Can you track a text mail subscriber number?

The post Received Google verification code text without requesting? appeared first on AppDrum.

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

• How to send anonymous texts from your phone
• Can you block a text mail subscriber?
• Do Not Call list explained

The post What is a Google subscriber number? Everything you should know appeared first on AppDrum.