Craigslist Phone Verification Without Your Personal Number

Some craigslist postings need phone verification before craigslist will publish them. You enter a mobile number, get a one-time code by text or voice call, and enter it to finish your posting. The number isn’t shown on your ad, but if you’d rather not hand it over at all, a second US mobile number can receive the code.

This guide explains when craigslist phone verification happens, which numbers work, craigslist’s limits, and what to do if the code doesn’t arrive.

When does craigslist ask for phone verification?

Only while you’re posting. craigslist says: “A posting may need to be verified before it will be published,” by email or by phone. Its posting steps end with: “You may also need to verify your phone number to finalize your posting.”

Two things are worth knowing:

• Your number stays private. “Phone numbers provided for verification are not displayed on postings.”
• Other requests are scams. craigslist “only asks for a phone code while you are in the posting process. Any other request for your phone code is a scam.”

How craigslist phone verification works

You choose voice or text, and craigslist sends a one-time code. With a PVADeals number, choose text: ours receive SMS only. craigslist also sets firm limits:

So check the number before you send it: every number you try and every code you receive counts toward those twelve-hour limits.

Which numbers work for craigslist?

craigslist’s phone verification page says: “International and VOIP numbers are not supported.” Its help form adds that verification “is not available for some pre-paid mobile or non-fixed VOIP numbers.”

A number can also be on only one account: “Phone numbers can only be associated with one account at a time.” If craigslist says yours already is, you may have verified an older account with it. craigslist suggests logging in with an alternate email address, and says unlinking a number from an account is at its sole discretion.

A non-VoIP number is a real mobile number from a carrier, so craigslist sees an ordinary US phone. Read more about VoIP vs non-VoIP numbers.

How to verify a craigslist posting with a PVADeals number

1. Create a free PVADeals account and add credits: crypto from $3, or a card through Stripe from $5.
2. Choose craigslist and the United States as the country.
3. Pick a rental. A short-term number lasts 20 minutes, with unlimited SMS for that time. A long-term number (3, 7, 14 or 30 days) keeps the same number if craigslist asks you to verify a later posting. See the prices below.
4. On craigslist’s verification screen, enter the number and choose text, not voice.
5. Copy the code from your PVADeals dashboard, where it appears as soon as it arrives, and enter it to finish your posting. craigslist says your posting should appear “about 15 minutes after confirmation.”

If the craigslist code doesn’t arrive

• Wait five minutes. craigslist says calls or messages “may take up to five minutes to arrive.”
• Entered the wrong number? Wait five minutes, then select try again.
• Watch the limits. Each account gets three numbers and three codes every twelve hours.
• Number “already associated with an account”? Use one that isn’t on another craigslist account.
• Still nothing? craigslist asks you to contact it if no code arrives after five minutes. And if an eligible PVADeals number receives no SMS during the rental, its cost comes back to your balance automatically as store credit.

Play by craigslist’s rules

A second number keeps your personal number private. It doesn’t change what you’re allowed to post. craigslist’s terms of use say: “Misleading, unsolicited, and/or unlawful postings/communications/accounts are prohibited, as is buying or selling accounts.” You also agree not to bypass its moderation.

Never share your code, either. craigslist’s advice is to “ignore any phone verification codes you did not request and never give out your code to others.”

Keep your personal number private

A US non-VoIP number from PVADeals handles craigslist phone verification without your own number. See our US phone numbers, learn how to get a temporary phone number for verification, or read our guides for OfferUp and eBay.