JMP.chat is the correct answer, I set up a Canadian number for a friend to use for SMS + calls. Message me if you need help.
this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
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any Canadians here who could just buy the cheapest prepaid sim and send it to OP?
Don't use PayPal if you can avoid it. There are enough red flags of late to indicate it's a hard 'no'.
Many ISPs in the UK have telecoms licences and can create phone numbers. So rather than looking for a phone number, look for a provider that does VoIP and get a new number from them - obviously it will cost.
When I tried the same, all of the free for a few minutes websites I tried had numbers that were known to sites like eBay and I failed.
No idea what Lebanon is like.
Issue is that I need a Paypal account, for which I need a phone number and bank account from the same country. I have Canadian bank stuff, but no Canadian phone number.
I’m in Lebanon
That won't go well for you long term, Paypal will eventually catch on and permaban you. You'll also lose whatever funds were in the account during that time.
If you still go through with it I suspect you'll need to figure out how to buy a non-virtual phone number, just seems like a waste of time since Paypal will eventually add it to their permaban/fraud database.
Google voice?
Honestly, I’ve been using GVoice for a long time as a replacement for my land line. It doesn’t even ring anywhere. It’s the number we give for things like gas rewards and such. It’s been great. I’m actually amazed Google hasn’t killed or enshitified it yet.
I’m actually amazed Google hasn’t killed or enshitified it yet.
they've already started to: you used to be able to make phone calls using things like tablets, laptops and work stations but they disabled everything except smartphones in favor of duo & meet.
It’s so hard to get a number.
You have to search for one that’s available and they are almost always not available. And you have to search by area code. They won’t just tell you which numbers are available.
It’s pretty tedious to try and get a Google voice number.
I didn't think about that. I've only ever used it for 2 things, and only one of them was a new number. That was over 10-years ago.
I live overseas so I regret giving up my number. I don’t use it often, but it was the best if not only free way to call us numbers.
My wife and I increasingly wish we lived overseas!
Pro-tip: don't use it on job applications.
Many systems auto reject forms with voip numbers to weed out bot traffic.
Many services will reject a VOIP number anyway. I know from experience. Its also been a lot harder to get one recently without already having a phone number.
Yes, came to say the same. It's very easy to get a voip number in most countries. But many places that want to use it for ID purposes (finance etc including paypal) will know the voip allocations and block them.
I may be missing something, but why can't you have the bank account and phone number both in Lebanon?
Probably because PayPal does not allow it.
In which case, their account will get frozen as soon as PayPal gets a whiff, and they'll lose out on whatever revenue they earn.
JMP.chat can give you a Canadian number.
I can’t recommend specifically but you can search for”. voip number” - there are hundreds. Some may not need a number .
Also, search for “sms verification “. For temporary numbers .
Alternatively a Pay as you go SIM card ?
You can buy Canadian VoIP numbers from VoIP.ms
Seconded. I think they are usually $2-3 per month depending on the frequency of use.
You might try avoxi.com. They’re probably more expensive than the other ones because they’re geared toward businesses, but virtual phone numbers is the main thing they do.
u can use talkatone app. Even free to receive verification code as call. But better pay to keep the virtual number!