Have you ever seen a legitimate business call show up as "Spam Likely"? Phone networks work hard to block unwanted robocalls, and sometimes real businesses get caught up in it. This article explains the rules in plain language and how to keep your calls trusted.
Why it matters
Calls that look untrustworthy face:
- Spam or scam warning labels on the recipient's screen
- Lower answer rates, because people don't pick up flagged numbers
- In serious cases, calls being blocked
The good news: following a few sensible practices keeps you on the right side of these systems.
CNAM — your business name
CNAM (Caller ID Name) is the business name that can appear next to your number. Registering it is straightforward: set your Outbound Caller ID Name on a number's Settings → Security tab (see Managing Your Caller ID for steps). Keep it to your real business name, 15 characters or fewer.
Remember that caller ID name information spreads across networks gradually, so give changes a couple of days to appear — and know that some phones only show the number.
STIR/SHAKEN — the anti-spoofing framework
STIR/SHAKEN is an industry framework that fights caller ID spoofing (scammers faking a number they don't own). In simple terms, calls are digitally signed so the receiving network can confirm the call really came from where it says it did.
What you need to do about it: essentially nothing. ReliaRing signs your outbound calls on our network automatically when you call from the numbers assigned to your account. The most important thing you can do is simple — call from numbers you actually own on ReliaRing, rather than trying to display a number from somewhere else.
Keeping your calls trusted
A few habits go a long way:
Do
- Call from the numbers assigned to your account.
- Register a clear, accurate caller ID name.
- Make sure you have permission to contact the people you're calling.
- Keep your calling patterns steady and reasonable.
Avoid
- Displaying numbers you don't own.
- Blasting large volumes of very short calls.
- Ignoring complaints or opt-out requests.
If a number of yours starts getting flagged, ease off the volume, double-check your caller ID name, and confirm you have consent to call. If it persists, contact support — we can look into it and, where possible, help with carrier appeals. These reviews can take a couple of weeks, so it's worth building good habits from the start.
Calling laws, in brief
Telemarketing and business calling are regulated. The details vary by country and region, but the common rules are:
- Get proper consent before making marketing calls.
- Honor do-not-call and opt-out requests promptly.
- Identify your business on the call.
- Respect local calling-hour restrictions.
- Never use misleading caller ID.
This is general information, not legal advice — check the rules that apply where you and your customers are located.
Note: Screens, labels, and detailed carrier reputation data aren't something ReliaRing exposes as a dashboard. The best signal you have is your answer rate — if it drops suddenly, revisit the practices above.