Utilizing a United States-based telephone number during the Google account creation or recovery process is a common practice to confirm identity and enhance account security. This process, known as phone verification, involves Google sending a verification code via SMS to the provided number. The user then enters this code to prove ownership and gain access to their Gmail account or proceed with account setup. For example, when creating a new Gmail account, the prompt to enter a phone number associated with the US helps to confirm the user’s location and mitigate automated bot creation attempts.
The employment of a US telephone number in this verification process offers several benefits. It adds a layer of security, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access. It also aids Google in combating spam and abuse of their services originating from specific geographic regions. Historically, the introduction of phone verification was a direct response to increasing volumes of fraudulent accounts and security breaches. This method continues to evolve as security threats become more sophisticated, leading to stricter enforcement and potentially alternative verification measures.
