A “Spam Risk” warning means your carrier or call-screening app rated the incoming number as likely unwanted. Some services show a level, such as Verizon’s spam risk meter, instead of a yes or no. The score reflects the number’s calling patterns and reports, not what the call says. It is not legal proof, but it helps flag calls worth logging.
A score, not a verdict
Most spam labels are yes-or-no: the call is flagged or it is not. A risk warning is different. It tells you how likely the call is to be unwanted. Verizon’s paid Call Filter Plus service, for example, includes a “spam risk meter” alongside caller ID, spam lookup and category blocking. The free tier simply labels spam calls as Potential Spam.
The words “Spam Risk” can also come from your phone’s own call screening or from a third-party app. Carriers and phone makers get their call data from analytics companies. Hiya says its technology is built into networks and phone makers including Samsung, and that it sees about 28 billion calls a month. First Orion and TNS sell similar number reputation services. Because each service scores and words its warnings differently, the same number can show “Spam Risk” on one phone and nothing on another.
A risk warning is also milder than a fraud warning. T-Mobile, for example, separates ordinary spam from its Scam Likely label, which signals suspected fraud. A risk warning on its own says the call is likely unwanted. It does not claim the caller is committing fraud.
What goes into a risk score
No carrier or analytics company publishes its scoring formula. What is public is the kind of information available to them:
- How the number behaves. Verizon’s own definition of spam focuses on callers reaching “a large number of recipients” indiscriminately or inappropriately.
- Reports from users. Carriers invite customers to report spam numbers and to flag mislabeled ones.
- Caller ID authentication. Under the FCC’s STIR/SHAKEN rules, the provider that starts a call assigns an attestation level, explained below.
STIR/SHAKEN attestation, in plain terms
The FCC required voice providers to put the STIR/SHAKEN framework in the internet-based parts of their networks by June 30, 2021. Each call gets a digital signature from the originating provider, with one of three levels:
| Level | What the originating provider is vouching for |
|---|---|
| A (full) | It knows the customer, and the customer is authorized to use the calling number. |
| B (partial) | It knows the customer, but cannot confirm the number. |
| C (gateway) | It only received the call from somewhere else, such as abroad or a network without STIR/SHAKEN. |
Attestation is not a spam score. An “A” call can still be an illegal robocall from a real, identified company. A “C” call can be a legitimate call from overseas. When the FCC adopted the mandate in March 2020 (FCC 20-42), commenters raised concerns about labeling and mislabeling, and the FCC declined to require any particular way of displaying results. For the latest rule changes, see our news story on STIR/SHAKEN caller ID rules.
What a high risk score means for you legally
A risk score has no legal status. It does not decide whether a call broke the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. It also cuts both ways in a dispute: a company defending a lawsuit may point out that a label is just an algorithm’s guess, and it would be right.
What the score can do is help you notice a pattern early. The TCPA facts that matter are specific:
- Did a recorded or artificial voice play? Sales calls like that need your prior express written consent (47 C.F.R. 64.1200(a)(2)).
- Is your number on the Do Not Call Registry, and did the same company call more than once in 12 months (47 U.S.C. 227(c)(5))?
- Did you ask the company to stop, and did calls continue beyond ten business days?
If the answer to any of these is yes and you can name the company, each call may be worth $500, or up to $1,500 if a court finds it willful or knowing.
How to handle Spam Risk calls
- Let high-risk calls go to voicemail. A real caller leaves a message. A robocall may leave a recording, which is useful evidence.
- Look up the number using the steps in our guide to identifying an unknown caller.
- Save and log. Screenshot the warning with the date and time, and add the call to a running call log.
- Allow numbers you trust. Verizon notes you can add wanted numbers to contacts or an allow list so they are not filtered.
- Report the number through your carrier’s app, and file a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov for scam calls.
If your own number carries a Spam Risk warning
High call volume, customer reports, or someone spoofing your number can push a legitimate number’s score up. Verizon runs a spam feedback page for mislabeled numbers. First Orion and Hiya offer free business number registration, and First Orion markets a service to “catch labeling errors fast.” If you suspect spoofing, tell your phone provider.
What to do next about Spam Risk calls
Use the warning as a reason to keep records, not as proof. Once one company stands out, check the rules on recorded and AI voice calls and ask for a free case review with your log and any voicemails.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spam Risk mean on an incoming call?
It means your carrier or call-screening app rated the number as likely to be unwanted. It is based on how the number behaves and on reports, not on what the caller says to you.
Is a Spam Risk call a scam?
Not always. A risk warning covers sales calls, robocalls and scams alike, and legitimate numbers can be mislabeled. Let it go to voicemail and see whether a real message is left.
What is STIR/SHAKEN attestation?
It is a digital signature the originating phone provider adds to a call. Level A means it knows the customer and the number, B means it knows the customer only, and C means it is just passing along a call from elsewhere.
Can Spam Risk calls lead to a lawsuit?
Yes, if the calls broke the TCPA, such as recorded sales calls without written consent or repeated sales calls to a Do Not Call number, and you can identify the company. The warning itself is not evidence of a violation.