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Guide · Phone safety · Updated September 2026

How to Block & Stop Scam Likely Calls (iPhone & Android)

“Scam Likely” means your carrier already flagged the call as fraud. Block it for free in under two minutes: T-Mobile dial #662#, iPhone toggle Silence Unknown Callers, Android enable Filter spam calls.

Written by GACS Research TeamReviewed by GACS Editorial Review and the GACS Research TeamLast reviewed September 28, 20267 min read

“Scam Likely” is a carrier label, not a phone number — your carrier has already decided the call is fraud. You can silently send every one of them to voicemail in under two minutes, on any phone, for free. Here’s exactly how, by carrier and by operating system.

Fastest fix (60 seconds)

  • T-Mobile: dial #662# and press call.
  • iPhone: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers → ON.
  • Android: Phone app → Settings → Spam and Call Screen → Filter spam calls ON.
Five stages of a brand impersonation scam: a fake order alert, you call the number, a refund is offered, remote access or gift cards, then the account is drained.
Impersonation scams reverse the usual direction of contact: the message makes you place the call, so you arrive already believing you reached the company.

Block at the carrier (most effective)

Carrier-level blocking happens before the call ever reaches your phone, so your battery and notifications are untouched. All major US carriers now offer a free tier.

T-Mobile — Scam Shield (free)

  1. Open the T-Mobile or Scam Shield app, sign in.
  2. Tap Scam Shield → toggle Scam Block ON to silently reject any call T-Mobile labels Scam Likely.
  3. Without the app: dial #662# from your T-Mobile line and press call — confirmation text arrives in seconds.
  4. Turn off later with #632#.

AT&T — ActiveArmor (free)

  1. Install the AT&T ActiveArmor app and sign in with your wireless account.
  2. Tap Calls → Block → set Suspected Spam and Fraud Calls to Block.
  3. Optional: add personal block rules for specific numbers under Block List.

Verizon — Call Filter (free tier)

  1. Open Call Filter (preinstalled on most Verizon phones) or install it from the App Store / Play Store.
  2. Tap Spam Filter → set Filter Level to High to auto-reject high-risk spam.
  3. Free tier blocks the worst category; the paid Plus tier ($3.99/mo) adds caller ID and per-number reverse lookup.

Mint, Visible, US Mobile, Google Fi (MVNOs)

  1. MVNOs inherit the underlying carrier network — Mint/US Mobile use T-Mobile, Visible uses Verizon, Google Fi uses T-Mobile/US Cellular.
  2. Most MVNOs don't include the parent carrier's spam app. Use the OS-level silencing below instead, or layer a third-party app like Hiya, RoboKiller, or Truecaller.

How to block Scam Likely calls on iPhone

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Phone (on iOS 18+) or Settings → Phone on iOS 17.
  2. Tap Silence Unknown Callers → toggle ON.
  3. Calls from anyone not in Contacts, Recents, or Siri Suggestions go straight to voicemail and appear in Recents — no ring, no Scam Likely banner interrupting you.
  4. Optional: Settings → Phone → Call Blocking & Identification — enable any installed spam-ID app (Hiya, Truecaller, RoboKiller).

How to block Scam Likely calls on Android

  1. Open the Phone app by Google (default on Pixel and most Android devices).
  2. Tap the three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen.
  3. Toggle See caller and spam ID ON, then toggle Filter spam calls ON to silently send Scam Likely calls to voicemail.
  4. On Pixel: tap Call Screen → Unknown call settings → set Spam to Automatically screen. Decline and silently decline.
  5. Samsung phones: Phone app → menu → Settings → Block numbers → toggle Block unknown/private numbers and Caller ID and spam protection ON.

How to block all Scam Likely calls (and turn off Suspected Spam calls)

No single setting catches every scam call, because scammers switch numbers constantly. To block as many as possible, stack three layers:

  1. Carrier layer: turn on your carrier’s free scam blocking (T-Mobile #662#, AT&T ActiveArmor, Verizon Call Filter) — see the carrier steps above.
  2. Phone layer: iPhone Silence Unknown Callers, or Android Filter spam calls. “Suspected Spam” is the Android/Google label for the same warning — turning on Filter spam calls sends those calls straight to voicemail so they stop ringing.
  3. Your habits: never press 1, never call back, and report persistent numbers so carriers and the FTC can act on them.

Got a missed call you’re unsure about? Check who called you or report the number to warn others.

En español — bloquear llamadas “Scam Likely” en iPhone

“Scam Likely” significa que tu operador ya marcó la llamada como posible fraude. Puedes silenciarlas gratis en menos de dos minutos:

  1. Abre Ajustes → Teléfono → Silenciar números desconocidos y actívalo. Las llamadas de números que no están en tus contactos van directo al buzón de voz.
  2. T-Mobile: marca #662# desde tu línea para activar Scam Block gratis, sin instalar ninguna aplicación.
  3. Nunca devuelvas la llamada a un número marcado como Scam Likely, y no pulses 1 para “hablar con un agente” — ambas cosas confirman que tu número está activo y generan más llamadas.

Don’t do these

  • A real bank, IRS, or utility will never call from Scam Likely — they use their own outbound IDs.
  • Pressing 1 to "speak to an agent" confirms your number is live and increases call volume.
  • Returning the missed call connects you to the scammer — never call back a Scam Likely number.
  • Spoofed neighbor numbers (same area code + prefix) are the same boiler rooms — Silence Unknown Callers catches them too.

FAQ

How do I block Scam Likely calls on iPhone?

Open Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it ON. Anyone not in your Contacts, Recents, or Siri Suggestions will go straight to voicemail. For carrier-level blocking, layer T-Mobile Scam Shield (dial #662#), AT&T ActiveArmor, or Verizon Call Filter on top.

How do I stop Scam Likely calls on Android?

Open the Phone by Google app → three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen, then enable Filter spam calls. On Pixel, also enable Call Screen with Spam set to Automatically screen, decline, silently decline. On Samsung, use Phone → Settings → Block numbers → Caller ID and spam protection.

Does *#662# actually block scam calls?

Dialing #662# on T-Mobile turns on Scam Block, which silently rejects calls T-Mobile has classified as scam — they never ring your phone and never reach voicemail. Confirm with #787# and turn off with #632#. It's free and works without the app.

Why am I still getting Scam Likely calls after blocking?

Carrier filters miss new spoofed numbers for the first few hours of a campaign. Stack defenses: enable carrier scam blocking AND iOS Silence Unknown Callers / Android spam filtering AND a third-party app like Hiya or RoboKiller. Never press 1 or call back — both confirm your line is live.

Can I block Scam Likely calls without an app?

Yes. On T-Mobile dial #662#. On iPhone use Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers. On Android use the Phone by Google built-in spam filter. None of these require a separate app download or a paid subscription.

Will blocking Scam Likely block legitimate unknown callers?

Carrier Scam Block only blocks calls flagged as fraud, so legitimate unknown numbers still ring. iOS Silence Unknown Callers and Android spam filtering are stricter — they send any unknown number to voicemail, which can miss doctor offices or delivery drivers. Check voicemail and Recents after the first few days to whitelist anyone important.

How do I turn off Suspected Spam calls?

Suspected Spam is the label the Phone by Google app shows on likely spam. Open the Phone app → three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen, then turn on Filter spam calls. Those calls go straight to voicemail and stop ringing your phone.

Related guides

Check a number on GACS

2026 update: what's new this year

STIR/SHAKEN enforcement widened. The FCC's June 2025 rule extended full STIR/SHAKEN attestation to all voice providers with more than 100,000 subscribers, including VoIP resellers. Real numbers now get an "A" attestation; spoofed traffic increasingly falls to "C" and gets carrier-blocked upstream. If you still see high "Scam Likely" volume, most of it is originating outside the US on unattested trunks — carrier-level blocks (above) are the fastest fix.

Newer iPhones can screen unknown callers. Recent iOS versions add call screening that asks unknown callers for their name and reason before your phone rings. Combined with Silence Unknown Callers, it cuts interruptions without hiding legitimate new callers — check Settings → Apps → Phone on your device for the exact options available.

Android Call Screen is a strong free filter. On Pixel (and some other Android phones), Call Screen answers unknown callers for you, asks who’s calling, and shows a live transcript. Robocalls and many scam callers simply hang up.

AI voice-clone scams surged. If a "Scam Likely" call slips through and sounds like a family member in distress, hang up and call them back on the number you already have. See our AI voice-cloning scam guide.

Sources

  1. 1How to avoid a scam US Federal Trade Commission — The four signs the FTC says are common to nearly every scam.
  2. 2Top text scams of 2024 US Federal Trade Commission · April 2025 — FTC Consumer Sentinel data on losses to text-message scams.
  3. 3ReportFraud.ftc.gov US Federal Trade Commission — Where US consumers file a fraud report.
  4. 4Where to report a scam USA.gov — Directory of the correct US agency for each scam type.
  5. 5Report fraud and cybercrime Report Fraud (UK) — UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.

Learn to spot these yourself — free fraud awareness training

Blocking calls stops the ringing — recognising the script stops the scam. The free GACS certification course walks through the exact patterns phone scammers use.

Start the free course

How to Block Scam Likely Calls

  1. Enable carrier scam blocking

    T-Mobile: dial #662#. AT&T: ActiveArmor app → Block suspected spam. Verizon: Call Filter → High.

  2. iPhone: Silence Unknown Callers

    Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers → ON.

  3. Android: filter spam calls

    Phone by Google → Settings → Spam and Call Screen → Filter spam calls ON.

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Authoritative sources

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Source: GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety · Published by the GACS Research Team

Cite this page: GACS (2026). How to Block Scam Likely Calls (iPhone & Android) | GACS. https://gacs.app/guides/how-to-block-scam-likely-calls · Record ID GACS-guides-how-to-block-scam-likely-calls

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