Okay, this stinks more.
Android developer verification: Building a safer ecosystem together
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/android-developer-verification.html
com.google.android.verifier
https://support.google.com/android/answer/17065026
Here a decade ago you could get a scratch card with a code table, or a physical otp generator, but now you can’t. It’s app or SMS and you’ll get charged 50 cents per SMS received
50 cents? In the UK SMS are free with most networks.
SMS are free also, but, the networks see them as a cash cow. Why letting users receive them for free when they can charge them 16 cents each? Example faq: https://www.windtre.it/come-faccio-per/cosa-sono-e-quanto-costano-gli-sms-bancari
And the same for the banks. They say “ah we need to buy the most premium finest quality priority service in order to let you get them as soon as possible” and charge the user 30 cents each. So, 30+16
A double scam
Oof, that’s rough.