Permanent U.S. Phone Number for Two Factor Authentication

[Safari38LH]

My bank issued me a SafePass card that generates a unique number the verifies its me. It’s made banking so easy when traveling.

[Tudorsailor]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

This came up in another thread and seems worth its own.


Many global nomads like me have a real problem with bank two factor authorization, PayPal account confirmations, and all kinds of other cases where you need to be able to receive a phone call on a U.S. number or even trickier, an SMS message.

Although it is now advised to use 2 factor authentication the latest advice is not via SMS/text. Were your phone to be stolen, the thief could put your sim in another phone that is not locked and receive the 2FA for your bank.paypal etc

The google authenicator app can work with multiple accounts. I use mine with Google, Paypal and Amazon. You do not need to be online to get the authentication. To add Paypal you get the long "key" from Paypal and then make a new token with the authenticator and use the "key" from Paypal. It is very easy

TudorSailor

[Peeew]

If it is strictly needed for two factor authentication I changed to email for this. If I can get a text I can get my email. And since these authentications expire quickly I think it is low risk.

[SV Coronado]

I'm curious if anyone has used their US based Iridium Go number to received 2FA SMS?

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by ChrisAndLenore

I use Vyke to provide over a dozen permanent phone numbers (with SMS capability)

Excellent, thanks!

Could you please tell me what your Vyke numbers look like here?

Are they all the same?


> Works perfectly for my two-factor logins.


Which banks have you tried?


My TextNow number comes up as

Enflick (parent company, hello Derek!)

Is Wireless: n

Which might be a problem with some 2-factor consumers.

Apparently Bank of America and Wells Fargo are strict, Uber and Craigslist can be as well, haven't tried any of those myself.

[dcruz99801]

• Originally Posted by Dockhead

  That looks excellent; $3/month and has international roaming. Hot tip!

WARNING:

We moved a T-Mobile number to Mint, an UltraMobile subsidiary, and the Int'l Roaming stopped working at the 30-day mark; the phone is now useless here in Mexico and I spent 5-6 hrs working with their tech support, without resolution. Outgoing attempts go directly to the Call Center; sometimes the recording is Ultra and sometimes Mint.



Since Ultra/Mint is reselling T-Mobile time, I suspect T-Mobile is enforcing one of their 'fine print' rules about excess use originating ex-US; regular T-Mobile customers simply get billed at a high rate.



Also, Google Voice does not forward to foreign numbers -- at least not 8 months ago -- so I still maintain a prepaid US number with T-Mobile, but my 2-SIM phone also has a TelCel account for Mexico.

[ChrisAndLenore]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Excellent, thanks!

Could you please tell me what your Vyke numbers look like here?

Are they all the same?


> Works perfectly for my two-factor logins.


Which banks have you tried?


My TextNow number comes up as

Enflick (parent company, hello Derek!)

Is Wireless: n

Which might be a problem with some 2-factor consumers.

Apparently Bank of America and Wells Fargo are strict, Uber and Craigslist can be as well, haven't tried any of those myself.

The Vike numbers are actual phone numbers that you purchase (for a couple dollars a month). They have a variety of countries and locations you can choose (so the area code is local to wherever you want.

They come up as actual numbers. for example one of mine is 519-498-2524.

I have used this with two Canadian Banks, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and a few private companies.

Best thing to do is install their app, spend $3 on a US phone number and try it. This way you know for sure. If it works, then you can buy the number for a year or more at a time.

[john61ct]

Thanks again, great stuff

But "actual" phone number does not convey much info afaict.

Some more background, not addressed just to you:

The issue with SMS-based 2FA - which I think is the core topic of this thread - is that some security-consumer companies,

being extra-careful about criminal activity,

will refuse to authenticate with certain **types** of numbers.

Google Fi SIMS for example commonly get knocked back.

gVoice numbers very often.

Where the number **originally** came from can make a difference, e.g. landline numbers ported over to a cell provider or VoIP service.

The **current provider** name can be blacklisted.

However, my understanding is that usually the "number type flag" is what's used, trying to blackball all VoIP lines, since they are often a source of scamming / fraud / identity theft etc.

The Vike service is indeed VoIP based, but comes up as a wireless number

Usually I'd say wonderful, but it is a **Canadian** number (Kitchener or Waterloo?), so may not work for USian customers / companies.

Sorry somehow the URL didn't make it into my last post

https://freecarrierlookup.com/

Result for yours (note the "yes") :

[john61ct]

From Uber

When adding a phone number to your rider account, we recommend using a number associated with a wireless mobile phone provider. Adding your mobile phone number allows you to access the Uber platform and connect with drivers for phone calls and SMS text messaging.

The Uber platform will not work with Google Voice or other internet-based (VOIP) numbers.

______
Zelle money-transfer is another example, will not activate at all on my phone with a Google Fi SIM card installed, nor using TextNow.

Which recalled factoid makes me realize

Hey OP, TN is obviously not a panacea here 8-(

[Mike Neal]

Wells Fargo gave me an RSA device that generates a new six digit number every minute that I can use for 2FA instead of an SMS code.

[loneshark64]

Try a Google Voice number. You can get SMS and retrieve via email outside the US. Not sure why that wouldn’t work.

[john61ct]

I just explained in great detail why GV will not work, in some cases.

In fact before the GV service got bought by google, (called GrandCentral) was when this issue was first raised, but callback services not banking.

Back in the 90's similar issues with the voice assistance package "Wildfire", like Siri for telephony, getting onto 30 years ago.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Yes and No.



We have skype and can get SMS...but it's wonky. Sometimes they come thru right away and other times they come thru a week later.



Lots of sites have alternatives to SMS as an option. Other sites will refuse to use a non-cell number.



Unfortunately, we are not typical, so businesses largely don't care about fixing our problem.

Yeah, officially Skype doesnt support SMS, but sometimes they do come thru.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by weavis

Similar to you, I deal internationally. I have a "head office number" on SKYPE. I have a message thats informs to leave a call back number and states that the caller will be called back from the 'local' office to the international caller. I also have the SKYPE forwarded at times to the sim card I am currently using.



Its a pain, but a resend of the the SMS to the requisite sim card can facilitated if you know there is one waiting is helpful..

Ive got a Skpe number too, but dont follow your comment about SMS resend?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Rorzech

I got rid of two factor authentication . I found out the scammers steal your phone number then with that they can steal your identity and clean out your bank or even mortgage your house from under you. I suggest just depend on a ridiculous crazy long Password period.I read a whole page on how this scam works and it scared the hell out of me because it is so easy !

You cant get rid of 2 factor auth in some cases...and IMHO crazy long passwords are less secure because people stow them somewhere in order to remember.