Shpock SMS Verification

Selling second-hand items to buyers nearby? A virtual number handles the Shpock SMS verification so you do not have to hand your personal number to strangers.

Shpock is a marketplace app launched in Vienna in 2012 that lets people sell their things to buyers nearby. It is operated by Finderly GmbH, which Russmedia Equity Partners acquired from Adevinta in 2021, and it is used across Europe, notably in Austria and the UK. Phone verification helps keep the accounts that post listings and send messages tied to real people.

With a virtual number you complete the sign-up form and read the code on screen. That suits people who do not want to share their number with every buyer, sellers who keep second-hand sales separate from their private line, or those temporarily living in the UK or Austria and buying or selling household items. The platform may reject some virtual numbers; if so, try another.

Because Shpock focuses on local trades, be careful how much location detail you share and give your home address only when necessary. As the account is tied to a number, re-verification may be requested later, so add a recovery e-mail. If you want to build a lasting seller reputation, use a number you will not lose access to.