[pitterpatter]

This is not entirely unique to Google either. I have an old MSN email account I can't get into even though I know the password. It wants me to verify via an old phone number I no longer have access to.

[conradfr]

Send a text to that number, maybe there would be someone helpful using it?

[warkdarrior]

Yeah, that will not sound like a phishing scam to the recipient!