A technology founder reported their Google Workspace account was suspended after removing an Australian recovery phone number while traveling in the UK on April 4. The suspension occurred at 5:06 AM, with Google citing a suspected hijacking despite the user maintaining an active authenticator app, passkey, logged-in devices, and backup codes. DNS verification via CNAME and TXT records was completed to confirm domain ownership. (https://zencapital.substack.com/p/sad-story-of-my-google-workspace)

The affected account functions as the sole super admin, managing email, Drive, Calendar, payroll, and Google OAuth for services including Pipedrive and internal task systems. Forwarding rules failed to operate during suspension, blocking all incoming mail with a potential 30-day recovery delay stated in one message. Four support cases were opened across chat, phone, and tickets, with representatives providing inconsistent guidance including requirements to log in with the suspended account. (https://zencapital.substack.com/p/sad-story-of-my-google-workspace)

Similar account recovery difficulties were previously covered in an Ars Technica report on Google's delayed appeal process for suspensions and a Wired article documenting extended Google lockouts for verified users.