Only 1 Account can be linked to your phone number. Smurf problem solved 99%. Let’s see how fast high ranked smurfing with 20 accounts will run out of phone numbers. Let’s see how account sellers deal with that. 1-2 months to get smurfs to their real rank, no new phone number for new account. GG. K tx bye. Scared to give info # to blizz? Your account is already linked with phone number with authentication, make it useful.
1 Like
Isn’t that already a thing? They have to link accounts to a number to be eligible for top 500?
Or do you mean link a phone number to be able to play at all?
yes. no phone? Walk 3 meters, ask mom’s phone.
3 Likes
I mean so they’ll still have as many accounts, as family members willing to give up there phone numbers for something like that.
But sure go ahead ig.
1 Like
well, you will run out of phone numbers. and most likely people won’T give it so you link it on the net. I said it would solve the problem quickly, after maybe 2 months. I bet you can get maybe 3 willing to give phone for that around you, MAX. And most will just be too lazy to do it.
2 Likes
Easy to spoof phone numbers and I’m certain software exists to interact between a spoofed number and a verification text…
3 Likes
Not everyone is going to do that only the minority
Except there are not only several apps you can get an extra phone number on for texting and calling purposes for free, there are already people that use multiple numbers for having multiple t500 accounts. Just have a family member or friend who will never play OW give their number and then you’re done.
Literally the simple fact that you can get apps for a second free phone number on your phone is why they will easily get around it.
1 Like
imo like said, I agree to the fact most would not go to that lenght, It would at least strongly discourage people to smurf. I mean, I would never go as far as credit card number or Social security number, but phone number seems pretty reasonable, as well as a mean of verification like we already do for so many platforms, 2 in 1!
I’d go a little differently, let them link more than one account to each phone number, but at that point all the accounts on a number are linked. If one gets caught smurfing or throwing or any other infractions, then all the accounts receive suspensions. Give some sort of incentive for it, like extra comp points, shared skins, or extra loot boxes, then people who just want another account to try and see where they place, or try other heroes then they can since they aren’t essentially breaking the system, but the people who want to break/ruin the ladder will be risking their magical gm account.
Yeah, might as well tweek it, as long as it stops ruining the overwatch experience heh?
If you have a google account, you can get a free phone number for it. I have countless google accounts. I’ve forgotten the majority of them, I’ve made so many. Different variations of my name, various usernames, all for various purposes - each one can be linked to a new account. I don’t even need to ask any of my family for their numbers, but I easily could do that as well. Just call up my parents and ask them to send me whatever verification it wants.
1 Like
I tried to use a “burner” phone number generated by a dialing app once to set up Steam Guard back when I had no cell service in my area - it detected that it was a VOIP number and wouldn’t let me use it.
So it’s possible to set it up in such a way to block these phone numbers.
1 Like
Google phone numbers don’t work as a phone. I think it can if you pay, like skype. You could not authenticate as a real line SMS. I mean a phone number is pretty damn personal, and it requires a provider. Very complicated to bypass
You realize you can get $10 burner phones, right?
The issue with this, is there are texting apps that allow u to create new phone numbers that aren’t registered. However they require an email in order to login in case u forgot the password and all that but emails are also easy to create. So it’s a lot of work but it seems like if people are willing to rank up 2000 smerf accounts they’ll probably go through that process as well.
Smurfs don’t keep you stuck in your rank so who cares. There is smurfs in every ranked game you play.
1 Like
yeah go ahead smurfs, pay 10$ XD. Don’t worry, people are way too lazy. maybe 20% of smurfs will do it?
Yeah it is already a thing, and that doesn’t stop all of these pro level streamers with multiple accounts all in T500 lol.
They kind of do. There’s your level of skill. And then there’s the probability of getting a smurf or thrower or leaver on your team. Same as the enemy team. Now it’s a battle of which smurf on which team is better? It’s completely moronic and makes playing comp zero fun.
The only way to tolerate it is to stop caring about SR and just accept that at least 50% of the time, you’re going to lose.