Everything You Need to Know About "Spam Risk" Calls

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Stay safe and protect your personal information from spam callers

Co-authored by Naveh Ben Dror and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: August 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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"Spam Risk" Calls: Overview

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Steps to Take if You Answer a Spam Call

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Stopping "Spam Risk" Calls

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How to Fix Your Number Being Marked "Spam Risk"

Are you getting a lot of calls that say "Spam Risk" on your caller ID? If so, you might be wondering if it's actually spam or if it means something else. Spam risk means that the person calling you is likely a spammer, and you should ignore the call entirely. In this article we'll go over everything you need to know about spam risk calls, including what to do if you pick one up, how to stop them, and what you should do if your number is marked as spam.

What "Spam Risk" Means on Caller ID

"Spam Risk" on your caller ID means the number calling you is likely a spammer. Avoid answering these calls, as picking up the phone can signify that your number is active and can lead to even more spam calls. If you pick up a spam risk phone call, hang up immediately.

Section 1 of 4:

"Spam Risk" Calls: Overview

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"Spam Risk" means the incoming call is likely a spammer. The call is coming from a number that has been marked as a spammer or scammer. Mobile carriers use machine learning algorithms to figure out which numbers are spammers.^{[1] X Research source}
- These algorithms use behavioral analysis to identify and flag spam numbers. Reports from cell phone users can also affect which numbers are added to "Spam Risk" phone number lists.
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There are different types of spam calls. The main two types are called robocalling and spoofing.^{[2] X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications Commission Independent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source}
- Robocalling is when a spammer uses an autodialer and an artificial (including artificial intelligence and AI-generated) voice or pre-recorded message.
- Spoofing is when a spammer hides their identity by faking what number shows up on your caller ID. They will usually use a number with the same area code as your number, in hopes that you'll trust the call enough to pick up.
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Spam callers purchase phone number lists. The reason you might be getting more spam calls lately is because your number was included in one of these lists. These lists are formed when spammers use deceptive methods to get you to willingly provide your phone number to them.^{[3] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source}
- Spammers may also sell your number if you pick up a spam call. Picking up the call lets the spammer know that your line is active, so more spammers might be able to get through.
- Though it's less common, sometimes spammers just dial random numbers, and your number could have been the one they randomly typed in.
  - To avoid having your number collected and sold, be selective on where you put your phone number. Always be sure to read the fine print and check out the website's privacy policy. You can also try searching for the website name plus the keywords "spam," "scam," "complaint," or "review" on Google or your favorite search engine.
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Each carrier has their own label for incoming spam calls. "Spam Risk" is used by AT&T. AT&T also uses the label "Fraud Risk." Other networks use the following:^{[4] X Research source}
- Verizon: "Potential Spam"
- T-Mobile/MetroPCS: "Scam Likely"
- Sprint: "Potential Fraud"
- Frontier: "Potential Spam"

Section 2 of 4:

Steps to Take if You Answer a Spam Call

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Hang up immediately. If the caller starts to say something or is asking you to complete some instructions, ignore them.^{[5] X Research source} Ideally, you should hang up before the spammer gets a chance to say anything.
- If you're expecting a call from a number not in your contacts list, you can check your call log to see which number called you. If the number is unfamiliar, don't call them back.
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Never say the word "yes." Spammers may ask you a question at the start of the call, such as "Can you hear me?" If you say yes, they may save the recording of you saying "yes" and use it without you knowing.^{[6] X Research source}
- You should never say anything to a spammer on the phone. Ignore them and hang up as soon as you realize it's a spam call.
Never give a spammer your personal information, including your full name, phone number, address, or social security number.
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Never send money to a phone spammer. Even if the spammer is threatening you, don't send them money. Phone spammers are relying on you to panic and send the money out of fear, so they may pressure you to think quickly so you give in.
- According to Naveh Ben Dror, social media security expert and CEO of Spikerz, it's a major red flag when someone you don't know on the phone is asking for a wire transfer. Hang up and report the caller to the FTC as soon as you get off the line.^{[7] X Expert Source Naveh Ben Dror
  Social Media Security Expert Expert Interview}
Go to the FTC Do Not Call Registry page and click Report Unwanted Calls. Provide as much information about the call as you can when submitting your report.
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Contact your financial institution if you sent money to a spammer. If you already paid the person behind the spam call, you will need to contact the following authorities based on how you paid:^{[8] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source}
- Credit or debit card: Contact your bank or card issuer and let them know there was a fraudulent charge on your account and that you need it reversed.
- Gift card: Contact the gift card issuer and explain the situation. Ask for your money back. Be sure to keep a copy of the gift card and receipt.
- Wire transfer: Contact your bank or the wire transfer company and explain that you sent a fraudulent transfer and that you need the transfer reversed.
- Payment app: If you used money stored in the payment app, contact the app and explain the situation and that you need the payment reversed. If you used a credit or debit card connected to your payment app, contact your bank or card issuer instead of the payment app.
- Cryptocurrency: Contact the company you used to send the cryptocurrency and explain the situation, and ask for the payment to be reversed.
- Cash: If you sent cash via the United States Postal Service, call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (877-876-2455). Explain the situation and ask if they can intercept the package. If you used a different delivery service, call that service immediately and explain the situation, then ask for next steps.
- Unauthorized bank transfer: Contact your bank and let them know there was an unauthorized transfer or debit from your account, then ask them to reverse the transaction.
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Take fast action if you gave a spammer your account info or SSN. If you already gave the caller your information, you will need to do one of the following:
- Username and password: Change your username and password immediately. If your email account is attached to the account, change the username and password of every account also connected to that email (as well as the email account's username and password too). Consider using a password manager to set up strong passwords that are different for each website.
- Social Security Number: Go to https://www.identitytheft.gov/ and report what happened to get assistance for your situation.

Section 3 of 4:

Stopping "Spam Risk" Calls

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Don't pick up calls from numbers not in your contacts. If a real person is calling you, they will leave a message. If you're expecting a call from a number that you don't have in your contacts list, consider adding the number to your contacts so you know it's safe to pick up, even if it's just temporarily.
- Some scammers do leave messages. However, these messages are usually silent or the caller is using a robotic voice.
  - The contents of the message are also usually suspicious, such as a warning about not making a payment for a service you're not signed up for, or a notification of a purchase that you know you didn't make.
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Don't talk to the spammer if you pick up. If you accidentally pick up a spam call, hang up immediately. Don't say anything and don't follow any instructions the spammer gives you.
- Some spammers will try to get you to push a button to make the spam calls stop. Don't do it, as this can actually make the calls more frequent.
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Enable your phone's spam blocking features. Both iPhones and Androids allow you to silence spam calls. They won't block the calls completely, but they won't notify you that they're occurring.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers
- Android: Set the Phone by Google app as your default phone app. Then, within the Phone by Google app, open the app's settings and go to Spam and Call Screen. Toggle on See caller & spam ID and Filter spam calls.
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Research your carrier's spam blocking options. Both mobile and landline carriers have options to block scam calls. If you want to block spam calls on your landline, contact your provider for more information. For mobile carriers, they usually have an app you can download to help block more spam calls. We've listed some of the most popular ones below:
- AT&T: ActiveArmor app
- T-Mobile: ScamShield app
- U.S. Cellular: Call Guardian app
- Verizon: Call Filter app

Section 4 of 4:

How to Fix Your Number Being Marked "Spam Risk"

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Contact your phone provider. If your number is mistakenly marked as "spam risk," try asking your carrier for assistance. They may have a specific form you need to fill out or steps you need to take to un-flag your number.
- You can also try registering on the Free Caller Registry to let major carriers know that your number isn't spam.^{[9] X Research source}
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Switch to a new phone number. While it's not ideal, if your number is marked as spam and you can't fix the problem, getting a new number may help. However, there is a chance that your new number could get flagged as spam too.
- To avoid getting your number flagged as spam because of spoofing, always set a password for your voicemail and be selective of what websites know your phone number.