Text verification with no phone?

[Zathras5]

I notice more and more sites are asking to send text messages for identity verification. The problem is I'm physically disabled & don't have a cellphone or cell service. Is there any service, free or paid, that will enable me to get a phone number to receive these text messages on pc? I know there are sites with free public numbers to get a text but those numbers don't usually work in these verification situations.

 

I usually ask someone to get the texts for me in these situations but I'd rather not bother anyone & just do it myself. 

 

Is there any safe, legit site or service out there that will work everywhere. Thanks

[techbeck]

  On 11/07/2018 at 16:45, Zathras5 said:

I notice more and more sites are asking to send text messages for identity verification. The problem is I'm physically disabled & don't have a cellphone or cell service. Is there any service, free or paid, that will enable me to get a phone number to receive these text messages on pc? I know there are sites with free public numbers to get a text but those numbers don't usually work in these verification situations.

 

I usually ask someone to get the texts for me in these situations but I'd rather not bother anyone & just do it myself. 

 

Is there any safe, legit site or service out there that will work everywhere. Thanks

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Google Voice.  Used it for years.  Free number and can use it for voicemail, calling, text...I use my Google Voice number for those who I do not want to give my real number to.   I also use it for verification like from MS, Google, and other sites.

 

https://voice.google.com/u/0/signup

[Zathras5]

Thanks, but I thought google voice forwards to another number. Can I use it without that happening? I don't quite understand how this google voice works.... I don't want anything that will disrupt my regular home phone in anyway.

[Zathras5]

Ok, I set up a Google Voice number but it's the same problem... it doesn't work for these identity verification things. At least it didn't work at Swagbucks. I'll see if I can try somewhere else.

 

Any other ideas are welcome.

 

Edit: Tried 2 other sites, neither excepted the gv number.

Edited July 11, 2018 by Zathras5

[+BudMan MVC]

If you wee a company wanting to "verify" a user is Billy Sixpack... No you would not accept some GV number since any buddy can get one of those.  Prob want to know the phone number is from carrier that has the users info that is tied to the phone #, etc..

 

What does being disabled have to do not having a cell phone?  Seems like a non sequitur to me..

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 11/07/2018 at 19:00, BudMan said:

If you wee a company wanting to "verify" a user is Billy Sixpack... No you would not accept some GV number since any buddy can get one of those.  Prob want to know the phone number is from carrier that has the users info that is tied to the phone #, etc..

 

What does being disabled have to do not having a cell phone?  Seems like a non sequitur to me..

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can't afford the additional expense on a fixed disability income? duno just a wild guess

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

  On 11/07/2018 at 19:00, BudMan said:

What does being disabled have to do not having a cell phone?  Seems like a non sequitur to me..

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I have to ask this as well. I am disabled myself, and I use a cell phone just fine. If you can type on a keyboard, you can use a phone.

 

If you can't afford it, there are free cell services that give you so many minutes and data per month.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

  On 11/07/2018 at 17:59, Zathras5 said:

Thanks, but I thought google voice forwards to another number. Can I use it without that happening? I don't quite understand how this google voice works.... I don't want anything that will disrupt my regular home phone in anyway.

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for voice calls yes. for text you can text directly from the site/app

 

used to do this all the time back when i had a non-smart phone that had texting blocked.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

  On 11/07/2018 at 20:07, Brandon H said:

 

used to do this all the time back when i had a non-smart phone that had texting blocked.

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That's known as a dumb-phone. (my Mom uses one...)

[Zathras5]

I have no use of my hands. I'm using a joystick with my mouth and eye gaze software to operate my pc. I suppose there is some way to adapt a cellphone so someone like me could use one but I'm not going to bother with all that for this 1 purpose... I have no use for a cell otherwise...

 

So if there is someway to get around these verification things with some online service that would be ideal. But I gather there aren't any other options?

  On 11/07/2018 at 20:07, Brandon H said:

for voice calls yes. for text you can text directly from the site/app

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Thanks, yeah, I figured that out.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

You can write like that with no hands? Sounds a little far fetched to me... But, try the suggested above.

[techbeck]

Never had an issue using a Google number for verification.  Has always worked.  A lot of times, sites have more than one method to verify who you are.  Like an email address.  So I would check that as well.

[techbeck]

  On 11/07/2018 at 20:59, Mindovermaster said:

You can write like that with no hands? Sounds a little far fetched to me... But, try the suggested above.

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this tech has been around for a while now.  and with predictive/suggestive text, makes it even easier/quicker.  I  Plenty of info online.

[Zathras5]

  On 11/07/2018 at 21:02, techbeck said:

Never had an issue using a Google number for verification.  Has always worked.  A lot of times, sites have more than one method to verify who you are.  Like an email address.  So I would check that as well.

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That's what I usually do but lately I've been running into a lot of sites requiring sms.

 

I wonder if it matters what type of phone line you associate your Google number with. I used my home phone which is a VoIP based line... I assume you used your cell number?

[Steven P. Administrators]

  On 11/07/2018 at 20:13, Zathras5 said:

I have no use of my hands. I'm using a joystick with my mouth and eye gaze software to operate my pc. I suppose there is some way to adapt a cellphone so someone like me could use one but I'm not going to bother with all that for this 1 purpose... I have no use for a cell otherwise...

 

So if there is someway to get around these verification things with some online service that would be ideal. But I gather there aren't any other options?

Thanks, yeah, I figured that out.

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There's a few US services you can look into here https://tech-vise.com/get-a-usa-phone-number-easily-with-these-services/ 

 

Line2 https://www.line2.com/plans might have what you need, but ultimately you will need a paid service to get around the blocks most companies put on "free" online call/text services.

 

I do feel your pain at having to jump though more and more hoops to be verified online, all thanks to idiots, trolls and hackers!!

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

  On 11/07/2018 at 21:07, techbeck said:

this tech has been around for a while now.  and with predictive/suggestive text, makes it even easier/quicker.  I  Plenty of info online.

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Hm, guess I never looked into it. Just my ignorance, I guess...

[Nick H. Supervisor]

  On 11/07/2018 at 20:59, Mindovermaster said:

You can write like that with no hands? Sounds a little far fetched to me... But, try the suggested above.

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Not at all. I had a user that had a motorcycle accident, completely quadriplegic. We were able to provide him with the necessary equipment to allow him to work. It was kinda cool to see, if it weren't for the fact that he originally had the use of all his limbs.

 

Unfortunately I wasn't involved with looking in to the software, and the software involved didn't involve the two-factor authentication. Do they not offer an option that doesn't involve a phone? Most seem to offer a separate email address these days.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

  On 11/07/2018 at 21:21, Zathras5 said:

That's what I usually do but lately I've been running into a lot of sites requiring sms.

 

I wonder if it matters what type of phone line you associate your Google number with. I used my home phone which is a VoIP based line... I assume you used your cell number?

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google voice assigns you a new phone number (that you choose from a list of available numbers)

it's its own thing/service

[Zathras5]

  On 11/07/2018 at 23:10, Brandon H said:

google voice assigns you a new phone number (that you choose from a list of available numbers)

it's its own thing/service

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Yes but you still have to verify & associate the google account with a different phone number. You don't have to forward anything to that different number but it still needs to be in there.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

  On 11/07/2018 at 23:23, Zathras5 said:

Yes but you still have to verify & associate the google account with a different phone number. You don't have to forward anything to that different number but it still needs to be in there.

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Google normally asks if you want to do two-factor authentication through a mobile number or a separate email address?

[Zathras5]

  On 13/07/2018 at 22:10, Nick H. said:

Google normally asks if you want to do two-factor authentication through a mobile number or a separate email address?

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You're right, just not for Google Voice... that requires a number.

 

 

I've given up on all this... Someday I guess we'll all be logging in with our bio-chips anyways.?

[Nick H. Supervisor]

  On 13/07/2018 at 23:12, Zathras5 said:

You're right, just not for Google Voice... that requires a number.

 

 

I've given up on all this... Someday I guess we'll all be logging in with our bio-chips anyways.?

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After a quick look, you can use a trusted computer for the two-factor authentication. Do you have a second device that you can log in with? If you don't then you'll have the same problem using a "new" device that the service doesn't recognise...

 

There has to be an option available for people without a phone. Google can't have got this far without thinking about this...I'm not giving up yet, I'll keep looking.

[Zathras5]

Thanks Nick H. but I already have the google voice account... the issue is that the google voice number isn't being accepted at the other sites I want to use it on.