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Spam Likely, Scam-Likely, Fraud Risk, Potential Fraud, Potential Spam. Just pick one…
- Call Labeling Risks: "Spam Likely" or "Fraud Risk" tags can block or reduce call answer rates, hurting outreach.
- Reputation Matters: Carriers flag numbers based on call frequency, answer rates, and complaints.
- Preventative Measures: Register numbers, follow STIR/SHAKEN, monitor caller ID, and stay compliant.
- Remediation Solutions: Expert services like NobelBiz can remove false spam labels at the carrier level.
Imagine calling a customer, only to have your number flash “Spam Likely” on their screen.
Unfortunately, this nightmare scenario is more common than you might think, and without the right tools, you could be unknowingly sabotaging your own outreach efforts with negative call labels.
If your business relies on outbound calls to connect with customers, those “spam” and “fraud” warnings are a serious threat. They can damage your brand’s reputation and even lead to your calls being blocked entirely.
What Is Spam, Scam, and Fraud Labeling on Calls?
When a phone number is labeled as “Spam Likely,” “Scam Risk,” or “Fraud Risk,” it means carriers or analytics providers have flagged it as potentially unwanted or harmful. This happens when:
- The number makes high volumes of outbound calls in a short period.
- Recipients report the number as spam or fraud.
- Calls go unanswered too often, signaling possible robocalls.
- The number is linked to suspicious call patterns by carrier algorithms.
Once flagged, these labels discourage customers from answering and may even result in call blocking, affecting legitimate businesses.
Why Are My Calls Being Labeled as Spam, Scam, or Fraud?
The fight against illegal robocalls, while crucial, has had unexpected side effects.
In their efforts to protect consumers, the FCC and mobile carriers implemented aggressive call blocking technologies (STIR/SHAKEN) that had unintended consequences for legitimate businesses like yours.
Many organizations and industries have suffered drops in contact rates and customer engagement, damaging their trusted reputation while their bottom line suffers.
The problem is further complicated by the fact that each carrier and analytics provider has its own unique way of perceiving your calling identity, your phone numbers, or the way you’re using those numbers, creating a confusing and inconsistent landscape for businesses making legal calls.
Think of your phone number’s reputation like a credit score for your calls. Carriers analyze factors like how often you call, whether people answer, if you’ve been reported, and more. This reputation determines how your calls appear to customers.
Good reputation = a clean, accurate phone number displayed
Bad reputation = labels like Potential Spam, Scam Likely, Fraud Risk, or other negative call labels displayed instead, or the number is blocked altogether.
Proactive number reputation management is still the answer within the big picture of your overall dialing strategy. The algorithms have been around for a few years now, and the only thing that remains the same is that they keep changing and evolving in approach.
Partnering with a specialized provider gives you the tools and expertise needed to navigate these complexities. Their deep understanding of carrier algorithms and established industry relationships can help you protect your phone numbers, optimize your outreach, and ensure your message gets heard.
Call Blocking
When a carrier prevents a call from reaching the recipient due to perceived spam or fraud risk. This means your calls are stopped before they even have a chance to ring, significantly reducing your ability to connect with customers.
Call Labeling
When a call isn’t blocked but is flagged with a warning label like “Potential Spam,” “Scam Likely,” or “Fraud Risk.” These labels discourage recipients from answering, lowering your contact rates and damaging trust in your brand.
Clinical Trial Media
Mo Pene |
Contact Center Technology Manager @ CTM
What You Can Do About It
Quick fixes won’t cut it. The best way to approach your call blocking and labeling issues is actually by prioritizing your digital calling identity.
The first step you should take is to verify that you own the phone numbers you use and that you are dialing on them compliantly, with the carriers and the analytics engines they use to label your calls with tags like spam or scam. This is where NobelBiz comes in.
Our solution prioritizes your calling identity so that every phone number you register with us is verified as a trusted calling source. We do this through our Know Your Customer-based onboarding process, which decisively concludes that you have been vetted and validated to be who you say you are and conveys that information to the carriers and their analytics partners.
Based on our analysis of phone numbers used across various industries conducting outbound calls, we’ve identified that an average of 25% of a business’ phone numbers are typically at risk for improper call labeling, resulting in spam tagging. The only way to fix spam labels is through a validated remediation process, like the one we offer, that disputes the label at the carrier level to get it removed from your numbers. Only then can you keep calling confidently, knowing that your numbers are protected and that any spam labeling barriers are gone.
Salman Aslam
Get Started
Trust in your calls starts with reputation management. If you’re a legal business calling for legitimate business purposes and you’re struggling to escape the constant cycle of Scam and Spam labeling or call blocking, this is actually a pretty straightforward issue to tackle. It starts with identity vetting, continues through reputation monitoring, and proactively progresses through blocking and labeling remediation to correct issues as they arise.
If you haven’t started an investigation into whether or not call labeling is impacting your ability to connect, reach out today for recommendations on how to get started.
Andrei is an experienced marketing professional specializing in propelling growth for both B2B and B2C companies. Proficient in streamlining marketing operations and enhancing lead and customer experiences through SEO and marketing techniques.
