Enhancing Security: Setting Separate Verification and Display Phone Numbers on Google My Business

[Macitarc]

I have a Google My Business account, and I would like to configure my profile in a specific way for better security and management. Here’s what I’m aiming to achieve:

1. Primary Number for Verification: I want to set a different primary phone number specifically for Google verification purposes. For example, when someone attempts to claim my profile and initiates phone verification, the code should be sent to my primary phone number. This way, when Google calls, I will receive the verification code on my primary number.
2. Secondary Number for Display: I want to add a different number for display purposes on my Google My Business profile. When users visit my profile, they should see this secondary number.

Can anyone suggest how I can set this up in my profile? This configuration would help me avoid unauthorized claims or hijacking of my profile.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[ElizabethRule]

You can add additional numbers to your GBP along with the primary number, but unfortunately the additional numbers will not display on search and maps, only the primary number will. So this idea won't work :/

 

[Macitarc]

You can add additional numbers to your GBP along with the primary number, but unfortunately the additional numbers will not display on search and maps, only the primary number will. So this idea won't work :/

Hi,

Thank you for your response. However, we have noticed that sometimes the verification number is different from the display number on some profiles. When we call for verification, the owners of the business are unaware of the verification number, which prevents the verification process from being completed.

In such situations, should we just report this issue to Google, or is this a known error on Google's end?

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[Marcin Karwowski]

Hi,

Thank you for your response. However, we have noticed that sometimes the verification number is different from the display number on some profiles. When we call for verification, the owners of the business are unaware of the verification number, which prevents the verification process from being completed.

In such situations, should we just report this issue to Google, or is this a known error on Google's end?

Thank you for your assistance.

I have not yet encountered a situation where Google performed verification (or re-verification) on a number other than the one in the profile.

Maybe they were profiles with a hidden number?

 

[Macitarc]

I have not yet encountered a situation where Google performed verification (or re-verification) on a number other than the one in the profile.

Maybe they were profiles with a hidden number?

There might be a trick that third-party agencies use to hide their number in a Google business profile while showing a different number publicly. When someone requests verification, the request is redirected to the agency, making it difficult for the rightful owner to claim the profile easily. Alternatively, it could be a glitch or error on Google's part.

 

[ElizabethRule]

I'm with Marcin, I have never seen Google to phone verification on a number other than the one in the profile. It could be Google using one of the additional numbers on the profile, those are hidden from public view. You can try adding those and see if Google gives that option

 

[ABuck]

This is my week for "I've never seen this before" galore.

I have just had this happen today. The client's actual business phone is shown on the GBP:

But a different phone number that the client doesn't recognize is shown for phone verification:

The client is a new-ish owner, so this profile could definitely been claimed by somone else at some point. I just don't know how it has a different verification # than the actual business phone, which is relfected accurately on the GBP.

 

[ElizabethRule]

Is that number added as a secondary number to the GBP? Or perhaps it is on the website somewhere? Google has to be connecting that phone number to the business somehow, even if the client doesn't recognize it... odd for sure though.

When I search for that number, the GBP shows up as well as a Hotel carousel for the business, so Google is seeing something we are not.