If you’ve tried to sign up for Plenty of Fish (POF), you’ve probably noticed there’s no way to finish without giving them a phone number.
Even a free POF sign-up now stops dead at the “Enter your number” screen. This isn’t just for premium users: every new account must pass phone number verification before you can move forward.
If you don’t want to use your personal number, or you’ve tried and gotten the dreaded “This phone number cannot be used for verification POF” error, you can get around it by using the right kind of number.
Why POF Might Not Accept Your Number
POF will not accept your phone number if it senses something wrong with it, such as typos or suspicious sources. The “Phone Number Invalid” error will come up constantly. There are more reasons than you might think:
- Already used on another account – One number equals one account. If yours was linked to a profile before (even someone else’s), POF will reject it. This includes numbers you’ve used in the past if you were banned.
- VoIP or app-based numbers – Numbers from free texting apps are blocked outright.
- Multiple recent sign-ups – Creating several accounts in a short period can get your number flagged.
- Unsupported carrier or region (similar to Tinder) – Some smaller mobile carriers and certain country codes aren’t in POF’s system yet.
- Recycled numbers – If your number used to belong to someone else who had a POF account, you may inherit their ban.
Occasionally, people hit the block for no obvious reason. That’s usually down to formatting, and surprisingly, fixing the way you type your number sometimes works.
A few have succeeded by adding spaces or dashes (e.g., 000-000-0000) or by removing the country code if POF already has it selected.
Use PlentyOfFish Without a Phone Number Through DatingZest.
You simply cannot skip phone verification! Older guides might tell you to sign up on desktop or click “skip verification”, but that hasn’t worked for years. POF’s system now treats verification as part of the core registration flow.
However, you can still make the smart choice to protect your identity by signing up with a DatingZest POF Phone Number. For $9.95, you’ll get 2 private phone numbers proven to bypass the phone and SMS verification processes.
Step 1 – Get your DatingZest number. Don’t forget to specify the number of products you need!
Step 2 – Access & copy your number through the link sent by the official DatingZest email.
Step 3 – Paste the number onto the POF sign-up page and make sure there are no typos.
Step 4 – Go back to DatingZest to retrieve your code, and use it on PlentyOfFish to verify your account.
Why DatingZest?
For one, you won’t have to worry about handing out your phone number on a dating app. Number Geo restrictions are no issue, and you’re the only one able to access the number whenever necessary. It’s free, easy, and effective.
Can You Get a Verification Code for Free?
Well, technically, yes. BUT (and a big, glowing one at that), you’re putting your new account at risk and even risking future bans or shadowbans on POF.
One of the ways to sign up without paying a dime is to use free SMS websites, which not only does PlentyOfFish forbid, but that means other users may be able to access as well.
If you try asking someone for their phone number, that means they, too, can get into your account; it’s just highly inconvenient all around.
Common VoIP numbers (Google Voice, TextNow app, Skype, etc.) aren't an option either anymore because of security reasons, so don’t even bother.
Basically, whether you like it or not, you have to provide a legit-looking, accessible phone number that the platform will be happy with, and a free approach doesn’t give you that.
What if You Lose Access to Your Number Later?
If you used a prepaid, borrowed, or temporary number, remember that POF might ask for verification again when you log in from a new device or location.
If you can’t get the code, you’ll be locked out. That’s why many people switch their profile to a permanent number after getting set up.
If you’ve lost your old number, POF’s “Update your number” option during login can help: it lets you change to a new one and verify it on the spot.
POF Phone Verification: What Works VS. What Doesn’t
| Method | Works in 2025? | Notes |
| Prepaid SIM card (real carrier) | ✅ Reliable | Buy from a local store; works because it’s a legitimate mobile number. Keep it if you might need to re-verify later. |
| DatingZest | ✅ High success | A provider with real SIM carrier numbers; success rates up to ~99%. Cost-efficient. |
| Borrowing a friend’s or family member’s number | ✅ Sometimes | Works if they’ve never used it on POF. Ties your account to them and blocks them from using it later. |
| Free SMS websites | ❌ Rarely | Most blocked; even if accepted once, risky because codes are public. |
| Google Voice / TextNow app / Skype / VoIP numbers | ❌ Blocked | Instantly rejected by POF’s system. |
| Skipping phone verification | ❌ No longer possible | Old “skip” tricks removed; now mandatory before you can use the account. |
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