Virtual SMS for Account Registration Verification

BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 03:45
Last edited 28/05/2022 - 03:46

Hi

With so many deals submitted on Ozb, quite often the registration require not only email address, but also a mobile phone number.

With email, you can register disposable 10 minute email

With SMS verification, I've been thinking to buy Virtual SMS number.

Yes, you could buy physical Sim from Aldi/Woolies, but if you are able to create virtual number that you can dispose easily (the concept is similar to Revolut for their disposable credit card number), that would be better.

I found some, but it requires monthly fee:

  • Crazytel $7.95/month
  • Twilio $6/month for the number + extra a couple of cents for the inbound SMS

I wonder whether anyone found a more cost effective way to get virtual SMS number for occasional registration purposes

Thanks

Mobile

Comments

  • callmechicky on 28/05/2022 - 05:55
    +2

    I've looked at this exact question extensively for business purposes, and found the same findings.

    Twilio is great as it is benchmark for most Plugins and APIs if later you wish to use your account for such services so the credits on the account would be more usable and it's also cost effective.

    The only downside I had for Twilio from a business stance is the number database is what you would expect from a low-cost service, barely any mid-tier numbers with triple number prefixes but that's an issue you wouldn't have to worry about.

    There are other providers that are a lot more expensive, mainly dedicated numbers at $150+ per year or $29/month and you're also required to send copies of your ID / Passport for verification in accordance with the Telecommunication Laws for Anti-Terrorism and for me sending this info to a random site is a bit sketchy.

    In all, I couldn't find a better deal than Twilio in my research.

    • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 10:23

      Thanks; yes, so true; a bit iffy using those smaller providers that enforcing you to share your personal details.

      • Chandler on 30/05/2022 - 08:48

        They're enforcing you to share your personal details as they're required to, not because they're sketchy. As [@callmechicky said]https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/12188021/redir:

        you're also required to send copies of your ID / Passport for verification in accordance with the Telecommunication Laws for Anti-Terrorism

        The concern is that if they are sketchy, they have all these details that you were required to hand over.

  • Mokr on 28/05/2022 - 08:27

    I've seen some people on eBay.

    What exactly do you need it for just to send out sms

    • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 10:22

      Thanks for your reply; dd you mean someone on eBay willing to provide their number for me to use to register a website? are you sure about that?

  • scotty on 28/05/2022 - 08:42
    +2

    If your need is having lots of disposable mobile phone numbers to receive SMS — I don't think those services are for you. Phone numbers are relatively scarce resources comparing to email addresses, and I don't think those are free.

    If you just want a "virtual" number, then maybe one of those Android SMS gateway solutions

    • Get a cheap/old Android phone
    • Get a pay-as-you-go physical SIM that let you keep your number for $10/year (amaysim or AldiMobile)
    • Find an Android SMS gateway app. I haven't used any, but there are many after googling it (some looks pretty dodgy). Many of them have programmable API, or have a web interface, or do SMS to email forwarding.
    • Hide the phone somewhere in the garage. Now you have a "virtual" number.
    • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 10:25

      Thanks for your reply; wouldn't the suggested solution (buying a physical SIM) defeat the purpose?

      I might misunderstood your method here; also, curious, why do you need to hide the phone? and not using the current phone? is it to avoid spammer to call?
      Thanks

      • wasdw246 on 28/05/2022 - 10:39

        It's a physical number. But if it's out of sight. You can pretend it's in the cloud.

      • scotty on 28/05/2022 - 11:18

        I think that depends on what the "purpose" is. If it is about not having any physical SIM at all, then yes, it would not make sense. However if you just need a phone number somewhere, does not need to be physically inside your phone, but you can still access the received SMS messages anywhere (even overseas) — then using an old Android phone as SMS gateway would be a relatively economical way of doing it.

        Hide the phone? Just something out the sight out of the mind. You can also potentially build a cluster of those, if you are operating multiple numbers or wanting to resell that as a service.

        • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 12:22

          No worries, will check out "Android SMS Gateway app".

          A quick google found one that is rather interesting; might check them out

          • FFx0 on 28/05/2022 - 14:59
            +1

            @BigLeviathan: A easier method might just to install Pushbullet or Join by joaoapps to view the SMS from another device - Web or your main device.

  • c64 on 28/05/2022 - 10:54
    +2

    $5 aldi payg sim, lasts 365 + 90 days for receiving sms. repeat when expired

    • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 12:20

      Thanks; I might go ahead with this at the end; buying multiple sim cards and rotate it among these numbers.

      Consider the 'virtual number' generations from Twilio /Crazytel seems more expensive

      I suspect no law of having too many numbers in Aus?

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/05/2022 - 10:56
    -1

    Why do you need disposable/changing mobile numbers if it's only for signing up verification purposes?

    Looking to sign up a bunch of social media accounts pre VIC election?

    • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 12:08

      To get more deals, such as JB Hi-fi perks and many more

    • Chandler on 30/05/2022 - 08:58

      There's some legit uses for multiple mobile numbers. With all the tracking these days I'd consider using different mobile numbers for everything, if that was actually feasible.

      Seems OP is wanting to get sign-up bonuses multiple times, but since it's not just email (which are easy to do multiple unique sign-ups with) but also SMS (which would then require multiple mobile numbers, hence the post).

      Not illegal (AFAIK), but still not "right", in my opinion.

  • Neoika on 28/05/2022 - 14:10

    A Professional did this.

    • BigLeviathan on 28/05/2022 - 17:42

      Lol, obviously don't want to deal with police due to multiple site registrations using multiple numbers…to be able to get the benefit of $10 discount…

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