06/17/2026
How to Combat "SPAM LIKELY" on calls.
Hello,
Here is some information regarding calls showing up on recipients' cell phones as "Spam," “Unknown,” “Potential Spam,” or with an unexpected name). Here’s a breakdown of what we can and cannot control with Caller ID. I have gone through every user and phone number associated with your account and, everywhere that we control Caller ID, yours is set correctly.
✅ What we can control
Outbound Caller ID (PBX): We set the number and name your system sends on outbound calls.
CNAM database updates (carrier side): For non-toll-free numbers, we can submit or update CNAM records with our carriers.
❌ What we cannot control
Receiving carrier behavior: Each phone company (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Comcast, etc.) decides how to display calls. They may use:
Their own CNAM database
Third-party spam/scam detection (Hiya, First Orion, TNS, etc.)
Local device contacts or spam filters on the recipient’s phone
Toll-free numbers: These do not support CNAM name entries. They will always display only the number.
Spam/Scam tagging: Labels like “Potential Spam” are added by the receiving side, not us, and can vary by carrier.
Propagation timing: CNAM database changes can take 24–72 hours (sometimes longer) to be reflected across all carriers.
📋 Optional next step
To help reduce “Potential Spam” tagging on mobile networks, you can register your business numbers with the major Caller ID reputation services:
Free Caller Registry – Covers most US mobile carriers
https://freecallerregistry.com
HIYA, First Orion, and TNS – Additional registries
https://hiya.com
https://firstorion.com
https://tnsi.com
This doesn’t guarantee changes, but it often improves accuracy and answer rates over time.
In short: We’ve set everything correctly on our side, but the final display is determined by the recipient’s carrier and device. With the details above, we can help escalate if specific issues arise.
