Local peer-to-peer marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp make decluttering easy, but asking buyers to call or text your personal number opens you up to persistent harassment and Google Voice verification scams.
The Google Voice & PIN Code Verification Scam
A common scam involves a prospective buyer asking: 'To verify you are real, I will text a six-digit code to your number; send it back to me.' What they are actually doing is setting up a fraudulent account using your real phone credentials.
When communicating through a secondary line, scammers cannot link your identity to carrier PINs, bank accounts, or home addresses.
Never send any verification code or PIN sent to your phone back to an online buyer.
Closing the Deal, Then Closing the Line
Once an item is sold and cash or peer payment is exchanged, you don't want buyers calling you three weeks later asking for tech support or refunds.
A second line lets you mute conversations or dispose of the number when your selling spree is completed.
Key Takeaways
- Never share your real cell number with marketplace strangers.
- Beware of buyer verification codes — legitimate buyers never need security codes to make a purchase.
- A second phone number isolates transaction chats from your private personal life.