Business Number Being Labeled as Spam? Here’s How to Fix It

Are you noticing an increase in the number of people rejecting your business phone calls? You are not alone! Your phone number’s caller ID may show as “potential spam,” “spam likely,” or a similar label indicating that your call is not legitimate, resulting in hang ups and ignored phone calls.

Why is this Occurring?

Over the past few years, the number of fraudulent or illegitimate phone calls has increased rapidly in the United States. In response, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released SHAKEN/STIR, a new technology standard for phone service providers. This new standard helps authenticate caller ID spoofing to limit and block unwanted fraudulent calls. Unfortunately, this has resulted in tens of thousands of “false positive” spam labels for legitimate businesses.

The SHAKEN/STIR protocol has a three-level system telephone carriers use to classify a caller’s information into levels of trustworthiness. The different levels of trustworthiness (or attestation), range from A to C, indicating the amount of trust or proof a provider has in the caller’s right to use the number in question. The higher the attestation level, the more trustworthy the call and the less likely it is to be blocked or labeled with “spam risk” or a similar label indicating a potentially fraudulent call.

3 Examples of Why a Carrier May Assign a Lower Level of Trustworthiness

1. High Volume of Calls: If your business makes a large number of outbound calls, especially to numbers that haven’t been previously contacted, it might trigger spam filters.
2. Negative Feedback: If customers receive unwanted or unsolicited calls from your number, they might report it as spam, leading to it being labeled as spam for future calls.
3. Inproper Caller ID Configuration: If your phone provider does not have your caller ID configured properly, carriers may view the information as inadequate and will likely flag it as suspicious.

What Can My Business Do About It?

The last thing the FCC and major telephone carriers want to do is limit businesses from making legitimate phone calls. Many companies require high call volumes on a daily basis by nature of their business. To safeguard genuine telephone traffic, the major carriers in the United States offer whitelisting services to register your business’ telephone numbers to prevent unwanted spam labels. To register your numbers, you will need to upload your business’ information along with a brief explanation of the nature of your outbound telephone calls. Once approved, the respective carrier will safeguard your numbers from future spam labels.

You can use the below websites to submit your request.

• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Verizon
• Spectrum

Additionally, you can register your calls with First Orion, a third-party service provider that specializes in caller ID displays.

4 Simple Steps You Can Take to Safeguard Your Number

1. Contact Your Service Provider

The first step in resolving the issue is to contact your phone service provider. They can investigate why your number has been labeled as spam and take appropriate action to rectify the situation. They may also provide guidance on how to prevent it from happening in the future.

2. Monitor Call Volume and Patterns

Keep a close eye on your call volume and patterns. If you notice any irregularities or spikes in outbound calls, investigate them promptly. It’s essential to maintain a balance between reaching out to customers and avoiding behaviors that might trigger spam filters.

3. Verify Caller ID Information

Ensure that your caller ID information is accurate and up to date. This includes verifying that your business name is displayed correctly and that your number is not being spoofed by scammers. Authentic caller ID information can help build trust with your customers and reduce the likelihood of your number being labeled as spam.

4. Educate Your Customers

Communicate with your customers and educate them about your calling practices. Let them know why you might be reaching out to them and how they can verify the authenticity of your calls. Providing clear information can help prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of your number being reported as spam.

Protect Your Business Telephone Number with VoiceNEXT

For businesses looking for the best business telephone provider in New Jersey, VoiceNEXT offers state of the art features, functionality, and reliability. Our dedicated team will ensure your business telephone numbers display properly and are registered with the appropriate carriers for maximum deliverability and no more spam labels!

Ready to start calling? Reach out to the VoiceNEXT team today!