NETHERLANDS (Business Emerge Report): A recent academic study has found that a widely used security step designed to limit fake online accounts can be sidestepped at very low cost, raising concerns about the scale at which fraudulent profiles can be created on major digital platforms.
The review, carried out by researchers at the University of Cambridge and released this week, examined how temporary phone numbers available through online vendors are being used to activate new accounts on global social media services. The team analysed data over a twelve month period to understand pricing patterns and availability across countries.
According to the study, several SMS-based verification services provide short term access to phone numbers for a small fee. Most numbers used for basic account activation were available for between ten and thirty cents. The researchers gathered information from four such providers and assessed the costs associated with account creation on a range of platforms.
The academics reported that this form of verification does not necessarily prevent an account from being restricted later, although the team was able to confirm the effectiveness of some services by testing the activation of accounts themselves. They noted that success rates varied across platforms, with certain services enabling uninterrupted registration every time during the study period.
One of the providers included in the assessment disputed being described as operating in a grey area. The company stated that it followed relevant regulations and offered services for product testing, digital marketing and privacy protection. Other firms reviewed in the research did not issue responses to requests for clarification.
Data published through an online dashboard showed that temporary numbers linked to countries such as the United States typically cost around twenty to thirty cents. Numbers associated with the United Kingdom, Russia and Indonesia were available at lower rates, generally near ten cents. Higher price points were tracked in markets like Japan and Australia where SIM card rules and procurement costs are stricter.
The team also found that charges differed depending on which online service the buyer intended to use. Securing a U.S. number for activation on WhatsApp was listed at about three dollars, while obtaining one for use on X cost roughly eight cents. Researchers indicated that messaging platforms tend to require more robust checks, which may contribute to increased activation prices, while microblogging platforms showed comparatively lower barriers.
WhatsApp stated that it supported research into entities attempting to evade verification systems and added that it used a combination of number-based checks and other technical indicators to monitor user behaviour and block misuse. X did not provide a comment for the study, according to the authors. One of the peer reviewers said SMS verification remains a central method for confirming new accounts on digital platforms and noted that the approach used to calculate bypass costs was methodical.
The findings are expected to prompt further assessment within the technology sector as companies evaluate the resilience of their existing verification steps. Analysts suggest that platforms may explore additional layers of user screening, as the low cost of temporary numbers could increase the volume of automated account creation attempts.
