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Spam and Scam Call FAQ and Glossary

Short answer

Pick what you are trying to do, look up a term you keep seeing, or read the questions people ask most about unwanted calls.

Find the right guide

We do not run a lookup database, and nothing here asks for the number that called you.

Plain definitions
Every term explained in one sentence, without jargon or sales talk.
Official sources
Answers follow FTC, FCC, Apple, Google and carrier guidance, reviewed September 2026.
Defense only
We help you screen, block and report calls, never find or track a person.
Glossary cards for spoofing, robocall, smishing and caller ID next to a phone.
Illustration, not a real phone interface.

What are you trying to do?

Choose your goal and your phone to go straight to the guide that answers it.

Figure out if a call was spam

  • iPhone

    Judge the call, not the caller's identity

    Read the number's pattern and the call's behavior to decide whether to answer or call back.

    Is it safe to answer? →

  • Android

    Judge the call, not the caller's identity

    Read the number's pattern and the call's behavior to decide whether to answer or call back.

    Is it safe to answer? →

  • Any phone or not sure

    Judge the call, not the caller's identity

    Read the number's pattern and the call's behavior to decide whether to answer or call back.

    Is it safe to answer? →
Stop a caller from reaching me

  • iPhone

    iPhone call screening and blocking

    Silence unknown callers, turn on call filtering, and block repeat numbers from Recents.

    Stop spam calls on iPhone →

  • Android

    Android spam filtering and blocking

    Turn on caller ID and spam filtering, then block and report from your call history.

    Stop spam calls on Android →

  • Any phone or not sure

    Block one number, then add your carrier's filter

    Blocking handles one number; a carrier spam filter catches the rotating ones.

    How to block a number →
Report an unwanted call

  • iPhone

    Report to the FTC, the FCC or your carrier

    Which form fits depends on whether you lost money; reports feed enforcement, not instant blocks.

    Report a spam call →

  • Android

    Report to the FTC, the FCC or your carrier

    Which form fits depends on whether you lost money; reports feed enforcement, not instant blocks.

    Report a spam call →

  • Any phone or not sure

    Report to the FTC, the FCC or your carrier

    Which form fits depends on whether you lost money; reports feed enforcement, not instant blocks.

    Report a spam call →
My own number is being faked

  • iPhone

    When strangers say you called them

    You cannot switch spoofing off, but you can report it and explain it to people who call back.

    My number is being spoofed →

  • Android

    When strangers say you called them

    You cannot switch spoofing off, but you can report it and explain it to people who call back.

    My number is being spoofed →

  • Any phone or not sure

    When strangers say you called them

    You cannot switch spoofing off, but you can report it and explain it to people who call back.

    My number is being spoofed →
A suspicious text, not a call

  • iPhone

    Check the text before you tap anything

    Do not tap links or reply; forward spam texts to 7726 and report them.

    Is this text a scam? →

  • Android

    Check the text before you tap anything

    Do not tap links or reply; forward spam texts to 7726 and report them.

    Is this text a scam? →

  • Any phone or not sure

    Check the text before you tap anything

    Do not tap links or reply; forward spam texts to 7726 and report them.

    Is this text a scam? →

Not sure where to start?. Start with the layered checklist: screen unknown calls, filter spam, never engage, then block and report. Open the protection checklist

When this doesn’t apply

  • You want to learn who owns any cell number — A number does not reveal a private person's name or address, and we do not offer people-search.
  • You want to track or locate the person who called — Reverse lookup cannot do that; for threats, save the call details and contact your local police.

Spam call glossary

The words you will see on your screen, in carrier apps and in official warnings.

Caller ID spoofing
Faking the name or number shown on your screen, including numbers that look local, so caller ID alone proves nothing.
Robocall
An automated or prerecorded call; the FTC says sales robocalls are illegal without your prior written permission.
Wangiri (one-ring call)
A call that rings once and hangs up, hoping you call back a number that can bill high per-minute fees.
Smishing
Phishing by text message, such as a fake delivery, bank or prize alert with a link to tap.
STIR/SHAKEN
An FCC-required carrier framework that checks a caller ID number was not altered in transit; it does not prove who is calling.
Scam Likely
A warning label a carrier such as T-Mobile can show on a suspected scam call; it can occasionally mislabel a real caller.
Number Verified
A label some carriers, such as T-Mobile, show when a call passed caller ID authentication; it does not prove who is speaking, and labels vary by carrier.
CNAM
The caller-name data some calls display; it reflects registered or business names, not a directory of private people.
National Do Not Call Registry
The FTC list that legitimate telemarketers must honor; scammers already breaking the law ignore it.

See all terms

Four beliefs that cost people the most

Common assumptions about spam calls that backfire, and the guide that sets each one straight.

  • Do Not Call stops scammers

    It binds only legal telemarketers; the Do Not Call guide explains who ignores it.

  • Blocking stops a spoofer

    Spoofers rotate numbers, so the blocking guide pairs blocks with filters and silencing.

  • Pressing 1 removes you

    It confirms your line is live; the robocall guide shows what to do instead.

  • Verified means safe

    It checks the number, not the caller's honesty; see the caller ID spoofing guide.

Note: Based on FTC and FCC consumer guidance, reviewed September 2026.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a spam call and a scam call?

Spam is an unwanted and often illegal sales call or robocall; a scam call tries to take your money or personal information. Either way, judge the call before you engage: see the guide to whether a number is safe to answer.

Does STIR/SHAKEN mean spoofed calls have stopped?

No. It checks that a caller ID number was not altered in transit on IP networks, but it does not prove who is calling and does not cover every network. The caller ID spoofing guide explains how fakes still get through.

Why does a name show for some calls but not others?

The name comes from caller-name (CNAM) data, which reflects registered or business names and is not a directory of private people. See the guide to what an unknown number can and cannot tell you.

Can a carrier label like Scam Likely be wrong?

Yes. Carrier labels cut down spam but can occasionally mislabel a real caller, so a trusted contact may still get flagged. See the guide to carrier spam-blocking services.