Researchers at the University of Cambridge have revealed that one of the key safeguards designed to prevent fake social media accounts—SMS verification—can be easily bypassed for just a few cents.
By using inexpensive “throwaway” phone numbers from online SMS activation services, often costing less than USD 0.30 each, the study demonstrated just how simple and cheap it is to create fake accounts across major platforms.
The research found that phone numbers from countries such as the U.S. can be acquired for under 30 cents, while numbers from other regions, including the U.K., Russia, and Indonesia, can cost as little as 10 cents. In contrast, more strictly regulated markets like Japan and Australia see prices rise to several dollars per number. Through practical testing, the researchers confirmed that fake accounts could frequently be created successfully, highlighting significant weaknesses in SMS-based verification systems. Although some services pushed back against being labeled as “gray market,” the findings underline just how minimal the barriers are for online fraud, disinformation campaigns, and other malicious digital activities. The study exposes a concerning gap in social media security and raises questions about the effectiveness of widely used verification methods.
