Russia, US, UK among cheapest countries to create fake online accounts Study reveals

A new study by the University of Cambridge has revealed that Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom are among the cheapest countries in the world to set up fake online accounts, highlighting a key component of the global “manipulation economy.”

The research, published in the journal Science, introduces the Cambridge Online Trust and Safety Index, the first tool to track real-time prices for SMS verification services used to create fake accounts. These accounts, often deployed as “bots,” are used to amplify online messages, manipulate public opinion, and bolster visibility for products, celebrities, political candidates, or ideas, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Analysis of data over a 12-month period shows that each SMS verification code costs just $0.08 in Russia, $0.10 in the UK, and $0.25 in the US. In contrast, stricter regulations in countries such as Japan and Australia drive up costs to $4.93 and $3.24 respectively, due to tougher requirements for obtaining phone SIM cards.

The researchers note that demand for SMS verifications on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram rose sharply ahead of national elections in 61 countries, increasing costs by 15% and 12% respectively. These apps, which display users’ phone numbers, require local registration, whereas social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where phone numbers are less visible, showed no significant price increase.

Jon Roozenbeek, co-leader of the study, explained, “A fake Facebook account registered in Russia can post about the US elections and most users will be none the wiser. This isn’t true of apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.” On average, creating a fake account on Telegram costs $0.89 and $1.02 on WhatsApp, compared with $0.14 on Facebook and $0.10 on Instagram.

The Cambridge researchers identified 17 companies providing SMS verification services, many with customer bases in Russia and China, and used publicly accessible data from four vendors’ APIs to develop the index. The global size of the fake SMS verification market is estimated at $1 billion annually.

Experts argue that stricter regulation of SIM card sales could curb the proliferation of fake accounts, citing Japan’s proof-of-residency requirement and Australia’s photo ID rules as effective measures.

Anton Dek, co-leader of the study, said the findings “serve as a starting point for boosting trust and safety on online platforms,” while cautioning that publication of the study might prompt some SMS verification providers to restrict access to their data, complicating further research.

By Vugar Khalilov