Google is tightening up its verification requirements for developers in a bid to combat a growing number of fake accounts.

For those inclined, it’s currently not difficult to purchase fake accounts such as the ones being offered in this forum:

Play Store developers will soon have to verify their email address and phone number and provide extra details like a physical address to help ensure the account is being created legitimately.

Google will also mandate the use of two-factor authentication to help prevent legitimate accounts from being compromised.

In its announcement, the company suggests the following best practices to ensure your account remains “in good health” and doesn’t end up being suspended:

• Keep your contact information active and up to date. We may occasionally check if your account is active by emailing or calling the account owner using the details provided, so it is important that they are accurate.
• Consider using a contact email address different to the one that you use to create your Google account, especially if your developer account will have multiple users or is for an organization or business. You might want to consider setting up a dedicated shared inbox for this purpose, so that the right set of people within your team or organization can access these important messages. We encourage you to use an email address from your own domain if you have one. 
• The contact email address for an organization or business account should not be a generic or personal email address. Make sure to use an email address associated with your organization.

Developers can declare their account type and verify their contact details from today, but this is currently optional.

Starting in August, all new accounts will need to comply with the new requirements. Later this year, all new and existing accounts will be required to declare their account type, provide the necessary details, verify their contact information, and enable two-factor authentication.

(Photo by Sammy Williams on Unsplash)

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