Why do carrier apps label my calls as spam?
Each major carrier runs its own spam-filtering app that labels or blocks calls independently of Text-Em-All, and many of its protections are turned on by default.
A "Scam Likely," "Potential Spam," or fraud warning your contacts see comes from the carriers, not from Text-Em-All. Neither you nor Text-Em-All can change these apps from the outside, because they live in your contact's carrier account. What you can do is understand what they do and ask your contacts to allow your number.
What does each carrier's spam app do?
The three major U.S. carriers each run a spam-filtering service with its own labels and controls. What your contact sees, and what they can change, depends on their carrier.
|
Carrier |
App |
What your contact can do |
| T-Mobile | Scam Shield | See a "Scam Likely" label, and turn on Scam Block so flagged calls never ring |
| AT&T | ActiveArmor | See spam and fraud warnings, and block or allow specific numbers |
| Verizon | Call Filter | See "Potential Spam," "Robo Caller," or "Potential Fraud," and send flagged calls to voicemail |
These labels are driven by call analytics companies the carriers work with, which score numbers on how they behave. Because the score is based on behavior, a legitimate number can be mislabeled, and a labeled call usually still rings. Labeling is far more common than outright blocking.
The app isn't always installed, but the filtering usually is
On most plans, the basic spam protection is already active, whether or not your contact has downloaded the carrier's app.
That's why a contact can see "Scam Likely" without ever installing anything. Downloading the app gives them control over those defaults, so they can turn the filtering down or allow your number instead of leaving the automatic settings in place.
How do I get my contacts to allow my number?
Ask your contact to open their carrier's spam app and mark your number as not spam or add it to an allowed list. Walk your contact through these steps:
- Open the carrier's app: Scam Shield on T-Mobile, ActiveArmor on AT&T, or Call Filter on Verizon.
- Find your number in the recent or blocked calls.
- Mark it as not spam, allow it, or unblock it.
- Save your number as a contact as well, which reinforces that it's wanted.
Carrier references to share with your contacts:
- Verizon Call Filter: https://www.verizon.com/support/call-filter-faqs/
- AT&T ActiveArmor: https://www.att.com/security/activearmor/
- T-Mobile Scam Shield: https://www.t-mobile.com/benefits/scam-shield
What if my number keeps getting labeled everywhere?
If your number is labeled across many contacts and carriers, that's a Caller ID reputation problem, not a single contact's settings.
Asking contacts to allow your number one at a time won't fix a low reputation score. Register your numbers and keep your sending steady, so the analytics that feed these apps stop treating your number as suspicious. See Caller ID reputation and "Scam Likely".
If your contacts have allowed your number and calls are still labeled, contact our compliance team with the affected phone numbers and the broadcast they missed so we can help you look into it.