4 Messages
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152 Points
Locked out of IMDb: The "Amazon Account" loop is making it impossible for international users to join.
Hi everyone,
I’m writing this out of pure frustration, hoping someone here has found a workaround. I'm a huge movie buff and I just want to use IMDb to manage my watchlist, but I’ve hit a complete dead end with the registration process.
Apparently, it's now impossible to create a standalone IMDb account; it forces you to go through Amazon. Here is the "catch-22" I’m stuck in:
1. The Phone Number Barrier: When I try to register, Amazon demands a mobile number for 2-step verification.
2. Region Issues: I’m based outside the US (Georgia, the country). Amazon.com refuses to send verification codes to my region.
3. The Error Loop: Because the system isn't set up to send codes to my country, it immediately triggers an "unusual activity" error message the moment I enter my number. It's not a security issue on my end it's just that the system doesn't know how to handle a valid international number, so it defaults to blocking it.
4. No "Skip" Option: Support suggested there might be a "Not now" or "Skip" button for the phone verification, but it simply doesn't exist. The phone number is mandatory.
I’ve tried different browsers, Incognito mode, and even multiple local phone numbers—nothing works because the system itself is the barrier. It feels ridiculous that a global movie database like IMDb is gatekept by a shopping platform that doesn't support international users.
Has anyone else dealt with this? Is there any way to sign up with just an email anymore, or a way to bypass this Amazon phone requirement?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Accepted Solution
MaxMcGuffin
4 Messages
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152 Points
24 days ago
Hi @Jolene and @Ozzy,
Thank you both for your time and for jumping in to help.
@Ozzy, I saw your comment before it was removed, and I really appreciate the follow-up. It's the thought that counts!
I wanted to share an update because I finally managed to fix this on my own. It turns out there is a specific way to get around the phone verification loop, and I hope this helps other people in the same situation.
@Jolene, thanks for the link you provided earlier. I used it to reach out to support, and they actually got back to me saying they had forwarded my case to the technical team. However, while waiting for them, I decided to try one last thing.
I downloaded the Amazon Shopping mobile app from the Google Play store on my Android phone. I made sure to turn off my WiFi and used mobile data instead. Surprisingly, when I registered through the app, it accepted my email and password but completely skipped the phone verification step. Once the account was created in the app, it worked perfectly for IMDb too.
I’ve already let the support team know via email that they can close the inquiry.
I honestly understand that support and technical teams often have their hands tied by system rules. It's almost impossible to make exceptions for one user, so sometimes we just have to find our own way through. Still, as a genuine user, it’s confusing why it was so difficult to get through on a browser, even with the same info and email. It felt like I had to fight a dragon just to create a simple profile, but I finally won.
I'm really excited to finally be part of IMDb. I'm looking forward to building my watchlists, rating movies/series/episodes, managing my lists, and writing reviews. If I have some spare time, I’ll also be happy to participate here in the Community Forums as well.
Either of you can mark this conversation as resolved now. Thanks again for the support!
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Jolene
Employee
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407 Messages
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4.1K Points
26 days ago
Hello @MaxMcGuffin,
Thank you for your message and I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused.
When you login to your Amazon account, do you have these same issues? Or can you login normally?
Please contact our customer service once again and on the email, attach the email address that's registered on your Amazon account. We'll be glad to review further.
You can contact us here. You can ignore any prompts to login and use the following filters:
IMDb Fan: Imdb account, Login & other account issues, login recovery.
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