RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bit of technology that makes it easier to contact people is being used by scammers–we’re talking about Google Voice.
Security experts say scammers are hijacking Google Voice numbers for criminal purposes. The scammer’s favorite targets are people selling things online.
The FTC said criminals pose as interested buyers in online marketplaces and then steal a person’s personal information to create a fake Google Voice account in that person’s name. That’s where the troubles begin.
Google voice allows you to use your phones and devices under a single number.
Besides standard phone features like voicemail, with its cloud-based website, it allows the user to call people and send texts right from their computer to someone else’s phone through Google Voice.
Millions now use the service and criminals have also discovered it. As a result, cybersecurity experts say Google Voice hijackings have become a big problem.
“It’s happening every day,” said James Lee of the Identity Theft Resource Center. “We get dozens of calls from someone who has lost control of their account because they gave away their Google Voice code.”
The voice code is the key to your account. With that access code, Lee says a scammer can become you.
“Somebody who’s gotten access can turn around and set up another Google Voice to your phone, so whatever criminal activity…
