The verification stage required for opening new online accounts is usually the one thing internet users dread the most. It can be a pain in the neck, and most people would rather forget the process altogether. 

However, the reason why many sites force their users to verify their identity is to safeguard their details and for the safety of all legitimate account holders on their platform. Despite these efforts, it seems scammers have found a way to bypass the security measures that have been put in place. 

There are services, such as 5Sim, that allow users to rent a phone number specifically for use in the SMS verification process. What’s worse is that these fraudulent phone numbers are available for just a few pennies! 

Sites, such as Instagram, Amazon, and Discord, use SMS verification to prevent people from creating bogus accounts which are difficult to trace. How it works is that, when a user tries to open a new account, an SMS will be sent to their phone number and they have to verify that they have received it before being allowed to continue. 

This simple but effective method has worked quite well for a long time now. That is until scammers found a way around it, using large-scale, automated services, such as 5Sim, that lease out phone numbers. 

In a post shared via its website, 5Sim said that users who do not want to use their personal numbers for SMS verification when registering an account can use a phone number from 5Sim.  

They said all that is needed is an internet connection, which means the process works even without a SIM card placed inside the phone. Users can even select a phone number from any part of the world. 

The majority of users, who make use of such services, are online video game cheaters. In fact, a member of an online video gaming community on Telegram admitted to not only using 5Sim but also owning phone numbers in every single region!The main reason why video game cheaters resort to this is that they need backup numbers that they can turn to in case they are banned by the game, something which routinely happens as a way to combat the prevalence of fake accounts.

 While this may seem relatively harmless because it concerns video games, the disturbing truth is that social media platforms, such as Instagram, are now dealing with the same issues. 

A spokesperson for the picture and video sharing app, said they are concerned with sites such as 5Sim. Each day, they block millions of fake accounts trying to sneak past their security system. 

In another interview, an employee of another website, Discord, said they were also aware of the existence of companies, such as 5Sim. The spokesperson went on to say that they try to block such accounts whenever they identify them. 

Discord, like many other sites, requires a valid phone number for SMS verification, instead of VoIP numbers. This is probably an attempt to reduce the incidents of fake accounts. However, according to 5Sim, they provide users with ordinary numbers. 

In its defense, 5Sim did say that its customers are not allowed to use their phone numbers for any illegal activity, or any actions that might cause harm to third parties or to the service. It said the phone numbers are only meant for legitimate purposes, such as advertising, getting discounts or bonuses, and for SMM specialists and Webmasters. 

It is not clear how far 5Sim goes in ensuring that its customers adhere to these regulations, or whether it does indeed impose the restrictions on accounts in cases where fraudulent activities are suspected. In the meantime, though, scammers have a guaranteed way to bypass a lot of very important safety precautions.

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• Source: https://www.finextra.com/blogposting/24860/the-number-of-fake-accounts-is-on-the-rise-as-scammers-turn-to-virtual-phone-farms?utm_medium=rssfinextra&utm_source=finextrablogs