Ask HN: Why are so many services rejecting Google Voice numbers for signups?

I run security at a fintech, we reject voip phone numbers due to proven fraud activity. The org has made the business decision based on historical fraud data, what others do is a risk management decision. Lots of customers out there, not a lot who will leave if you reject voip numbers, in my experience. The goal is not serving as many customers as possible, it’s about operating at the intersection of risk appetite and profitability.

We can’t have nice things because of humans in the aggregate. My apologies. It’s certainly not personal.

it's a calculation - how much exposure to fraud does google voice net you, and how much additional revenue. if the math maths such that supporting google voice loses money, you don't support google voice. this idea that it somehow reflects on the value or character of voip customers in general is expanding beyond the factors that actually influence the decision.

Same as VPNs. Sure, there are plenty of legit reasons to use one (just line a VoIP line) but there are enough people using them for illicit reasons that companies will ban traffic.

I was applying for a job and they refused to let me enter the # as how to call me, then the mintsim acted up so I ended up using a relative's landline, which is not even a landline anymore because the copper got ripped out.

I don't recall which job used the software, but it was some type of HR software that ingested CVs and dispenses pain and/or nothing. (Dark joke).

Anyways, sorry in all seriousness but all I can say is it was HR software for a job application and that surprised me since I basically got taught it's pretty normal to list a voip # especially if you can get a cool one with some sick digits :-)