“Spam risk” calls aren’t just a nuisance—if answered, they can be a gateway to major privacy issues or scams. Learn more about calls marked Spam Risk and the associated dangers. Then get Norton 360 Deluxe with its built-in Privacy Monitor feature to help keep your phone number off data broker lists and people search sites.
Spam Risk calls are a common and costly annoyance. A 2024 study by Truecaller revealed that more than 56 million U.S adults were affected by spam and scam calls in 2023, resulting in an overall loss to U.S. consumers of more than $25 billion. Spam Risk calls can pave the way for unauthorized recordings and social engineering scams that can lead to account takeovers, identity theft, and other fraud-based crimes.
These calls can plague smartphones, landlines, and even some VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. Let’s examine more closely what Spam Risk calls are and how you can avoid them.
Spam Risk is a term used by mobile carriers to flag potential spam phone calls, usually because they come from unknown or suspicious sources. Carriers may also flag certain numbers as spam if the caller makes a lot of short calls or if the number is frequently reported.
A call is probably spam if the caller ID name says “Spam Risk,” “Spam Likely,” “Suspected Spam,” or something similar. If you see one of these warning messages pop up, ignore the call and block the number.
You need to take action against spam, because regardless of how spammers get your phone number, they will usually continue calling you if they believe your number is active.
To help keep your phone number off data broker sites and people search websites, get Norton 360 Deluxe with its built-in Privacy Monitor feature that scans common people-search sites to find out if your personal details appear there.
Often, nothing life-changing happens when you pick up a spam call. You might waste a few minutes of your time, the spammer might keep calling you, or in some cases, you could be on the hook for international call fees. The real danger comes from engaging with a scammer and getting embroiled in their scam.
A couple of things you might encounter include:
No, you shouldn't answer a Spam Risk call, because that confirms that your number is active and opens the door for more spam calls. If the call is a scam, the fraudster could try and manipulate you by using social engineering techniques. It's best to ignore and block the number to avoid scams and unwanted interactions.
It’s often easy to tell if a number is spam because of caller ID. But this isn’t always the case as scammers can use caller ID spoofing to appear as though the number is from a reputable source.
Here are a few signs the phone number calling you belongs to a spammer or scammer:
It’s not always possible to stop spam calls from coming in, but there are steps you can take to reject them or filter them out so they go straight to voicemail. You can also block spammers after they call or text you. We’ll show you how to filter and block spam calls on Android and iPhone.
You can block spam calls using Android’s built-in “Caller ID and spam protection” setting. Some spam calls may still slip through, but if that happens, you should block the individual numbers so they can’t reach you again.
Here’s how to block individual numbers on Android:
Note that the steps may vary depending on your specific Android device.
If you’re tired of fielding endless calls from unknown numbers, adjust your Android settings to block spam calls before they reach your phone.
Here’s how to block spam calls on Android:
iPhones have a spam-blocking feature that allows users to block unknown numbers or silence unknown callers.
Here’s how to block an individual number on an iPhone:
Here’s how to can silence calls from all unknown callers on your iPhone:
Tip: If your device's features don't work, you can also use a third-party spam call blocker app to help keep scammers and telemarketers away.
To start, here’s how you can block unwanted calls with AT&T and Verizon.
Norton 360 Deluxe helps you take a proactive approach to stop spam callers from finding your number online. The Privacy Monitor feature scans data broker lists and people-search sites to look for your personal information. If your information is found, Norton will help you request to opt out and remove your details. Get Norton 360 Deluxe today for better online privacy and stronger security.
Still have questions? Here are some answers to common questions.
Spammers might have found your phone number through public records, data breaches, or data brokers who scrape the web and public records and sell the information they find.
Calls marked “spam risk” are rarely legitimate. However, if a legitimate business or individual has irregular calling habits, it’s possible that a service might mistakenly mark their number as spam.
Your number might be flagged as spam due to high call volume, short call times, or reports from people you’ve called. If the phone number is related to your business, you should register your number on lists like the Free Caller Registry, which is free to do and helps identify the number as legitimate.
To block spam calls, you should register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, activate spam filters on your phone, and install a spam blocker from Apple’s App Store or Google Play to stop spam texts and calls.
Oliver Buxton is an experienced cybersecurity writer with a deep interest in cyberwarfare, emerging cyber threats, and cyberattack countermeasures.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. Our offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about Cyber Safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses. The Norton and LifeLock brands are part of Gen Digital Inc.
