Protecting our users via phone verification

The safety of our community is at the heart of Gumtree. We continually invest in our capabilities to stop harmful activities taking place on our platform. To improve user safety and deter bad actors, we introduced a one-time phone verification process in 2022 for all new users and existing users posting in our Pets category.

Why do I need to verify my phone?

Phone verification creates another significant barrier to entry to our platform for bad actors. We require any person creating a new account or existing users listing an ad in our Pet categories to complete a one-time phone verification process. This action allows Gumtree to authenticate users and restrict those who present anomalous or suspicious behaviours. While we understand verification may be a small disruption to legitimate users, it one of the many ways we can create a safer environment for users to trade securely.

How do I complete phone verification?

Verification of your phone is only required if you are creating a new account or posting an ad in our Pet categories. Firstly, a pop-up on the website/app will appear asking you to enter your mobile phone number. We will send you a 6-digit code via text message. Simply enter the 6-digit code on the prompt page of the website or app to complete the verification process.

Who will be asked to verify their phone?

We require all new users to Gumtree to go through verification when registering a new account. Please note that existing Gumtree users will only be asked to complete the verification process if they list an ad in a Pet category. Please note, you can only verify your phone number against one Gumtree account. Multiple accounts cannot be verified with the same number. 

Learn more about our phone verification process here.