Phone scams · Updated September 2026
How to block Scam Likely calls
“Scam Likely” is your carrier’s warning label, not a caller. You can switch the calls off entirely — on most networks with one dial code, free, in under a minute. Here is the exact setting for every major carrier, plus the iPhone and Android filters that catch the numbers the carrier misses.
The 30-second fix
On T-Mobile, Metro or Mint, dial #662# and press call. Scam Block turns on immediately and flagged calls stop ringing your phone. On iPhone, also turn on Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers. That combination stops most people’s scam calls the same day.
Block Scam Likely calls by carrier
| Carrier | How to block | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile / Metro / Mint | Dial #662# to block, #632# to turn off. Or Scam Shield app → Scam Block. | Free |
| AT&T | ActiveArmor app → Calls → Block → Suspected Spam and Fraud Calls. | Free |
| Verizon | Call Filter app → Spam Filter → Filter Level: High. | Free tier |
| US Cellular | Call Guardian app → block high-risk calls. | Free tier |
| Visible / Google Fi / US Mobile | No parent-carrier app — use the iPhone or Android setting below, or a filter app like Hiya. | Free |
Step-by-step with screenshots: iPhone, Android, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon.
Every step, in order
- Turn on your carrier's free scam block. T-Mobile, Metro and Mint: dial #662# from the phone you want to protect and press call — Scam Block turns on in seconds (#632# turns it off). AT&T: open ActiveArmor, Calls → Block → Suspected Spam and Fraud. Verizon: open Call Filter, Spam Filter → Filter Level High. All three tiers are free.
- Silence unknown callers on iPhone. Settings → Apps → Phone (iOS 18+) or Settings → Phone (iOS 17) → Silence Unknown Callers → on. Anyone not in Contacts, Recents or Siri Suggestions goes straight to voicemail, so a spoofed number never rings even if the carrier missed it.
- Filter spam calls on Android. Phone app → ⋮ → Settings → Caller ID & spam → turn on See caller & spam ID and Filter spam calls. On Pixel, add Call Screen so the Assistant answers unknown numbers for you.
- Register on the national do-not-call list. US: donotcall.gov. Canada: lnnte-dncl.gc.ca. UK: tpsonline.org.uk. It will not stop criminals, but it removes the legitimate telemarketing layer so the remaining calls are easier to identify as fraud.
- Never call a Scam Likely number back. Returning the call, pressing a key to 'opt out', or saying hello all confirm a live human and push your number up the dialler list. Let it go to voicemail and delete it.
- Look the number up and report it. Paste the number into the free GACS phone check below. If it is a scam, report it so the next person who searches it gets a warning instead of silence.
Check a number before you call it back
Check a number before you call it back
Look the number up against the GACS registry of reported scam calls — free, no account needed.
If your own number is flagged Scam Likely
It usually means a scammer spoofed your number, or enough people declined your calls that an analytics provider downgraded it. Register the number at the free caller registry used by the carriers, ask your own carrier to re-score the line, and stop using auto-dialling tools if a business line is affected. The label normally clears within a few days of the correction propagating.
Questions people ask
How do I block Scam Likely calls for free?
On T-Mobile, Metro and Mint, dial #662# from the phone you want to protect — that switches on Scam Block, which silently rejects every call the network labels Scam Likely. AT&T uses the free ActiveArmor app and Verizon the free tier of Call Filter. Layer the iPhone Silence Unknown Callers setting or the Android spam filter on top and almost nothing gets through.
What does #662# actually do?
It is a T-Mobile network short code that enables Scam Block on your line. Flagged calls are rejected at the network before your phone rings, so they do not appear in Recents or voicemail. Dial #632# to switch it off, and #787# to check whether it is currently on.
Why do I still get scam calls after blocking?
Carrier filters score numbers by reputation, and criminals rotate through fresh spoofed numbers faster than any list updates. A brand-new number carries no reputation, so it is not labelled Scam Likely and it rings through. That is why the device-level setting matters: it filters by 'not in your contacts' rather than by reputation.
Will blocking Scam Likely calls also block real callers?
Carrier scam blocking only rejects calls the network already scored as fraudulent, so genuine callers are unaffected. Silence Unknown Callers is stricter — a doctor's office or a delivery driver calling from an unsaved number will go to voicemail. Check voicemail if you are expecting a call from someone new.
My own number is being labelled Scam Likely — how do I fix it?
Your number has probably been spoofed by a scammer or wrongly reported. Register it with the free caller registries at freecallerregistry.com, which forwards corrections to the main analytics providers used by the carriers, and ask your own carrier to review the flag. Clearing it usually takes a few days.
Should I answer a Scam Likely call to tell them to stop?
No. Answering confirms a live person on the line and increases how often you are called. There is no one on the other end who honours a removal request — the label exists precisely because the caller is not a legitimate business.
Do call-blocking apps work better than the carrier's?
Paid apps such as RoboKiller and Hiya add crowd-sourced lists and answer-bots on top of the carrier filter, which catches somewhat more. Start with the free carrier block and the OS setting — for most people that removes the large majority of calls without a subscription.
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Related
Authoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- US Federal Communications Commission — Robocalls
Regulator guidance on blocking unwanted calls and texts.
- US National Do Not Call Registry
Register a number and file telemarketing complaints.
- UK Ofcom — Nuisance Calls and Messages
UK regulator advice and reporting routes for scam calls and SMS.
