SPAM Caller ID Best Practices
SPAM Caller ID Background
In response to the growing number of spam calls to mobile phones, many carriers and third parties have installed tools to identify and/or block spam calls. Unfortunately, these tools aren’t perfect. Businesses that use legitimate robocalls, and even some that don’t, may have their numbers incorrectly marked by spam ID technology, particularly when calling cell numbers. With smartphones in the hands and pockets of 81 percent of U.S. adults, you need to know that your calls are reaching your customers.
How do I remove my number from being flagged as spam?
The links below can be used to request your number be removed from each carriers SPAM database. There is no guarantee they will remove it, and both Verizon and AT&T will not send you any updates, you will need to continue to test on your own. T-Mobile will alert you when they have made a decision.
- Verizon – https://voicespamfeedback.com/vsf/
- TMobile – https://calltransparency.com/
- AT&T – https://hiyahelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=824667
What Spam ID and Other Services Look For
To identify likely spam calls, SPAM detecting technology looks for two main traits associated with fraud and robocalling: a high volume of calls originating from the number and existing complaints filed about the number. This means numbers marked with “Spam Likely” or “SPAM Risk” tend to be either numbers that originate a large number of robocalls or numbers that have a record of being reported by recipients as spams.
Spam ID successfully blocks many illegal calls. However, there are two problems that lead to legitimate calls being blocked:
- The algorithm fails to distinguish between legal and illegal robocalls:Because the system looks only for high-volume originating numbers, the service may mark legal robocalls as spam. Examples of legal robocalls include calls from non-profits and telemarketing calls made with a person’s express consent.
- Users may report a number erroneously:Some people avoid calls from all unknown numbers. As a result, some customers may report your number without answering the phone. If this happens enough, your number will be marked Spam Likely.
Five Ways You Can Avoid Being Marked Spam Likely
Because getting incorrectly listed as a spam number can have an enormous impact on the success of your business, you need to take steps to avoid being marked with this caller ID. Use these strategies to protect your number:
- Understand robocall laws: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has laws about making robocalls. Making sure you understand the FCC’s robocall laws helps you stay off spam number databases and gives you legal ground should your number be marked incorrectly.
- Originate calls individually: If you can originate calls to customers individually, do so. This would require some or all users to utilize a different caller ID than the main telephone number of your PBX service. This prevents Spam ID from identifying your number when searching for high-volumes of calls coming from a single number.
- Ask customers to save your number:Some third-party spam blocking apps allow users to block calls from unknown numbers. Others even generate databases by excluding numbers stored in users’ contacts. Asking users to save your number can help ensure your call reaches them successfully.
- Change numbers often:Most large outbound contact centers change phone numbers often to avoid getting marked as Spam. You can also use this strategy, though it may not be practical for every business.
- Place test calls:By placing test calls to numbers represented by different carriers, you’ll know in advance which ones have marked you Spam. Implementation of this process allows you to stay proactive while avoiding unwanted surprises down the road.