What is Scam Likely?
Scam Likely is a caller ID warning shown when a carrier or its analytics partner suspects that an incoming call is a fraud attempt.
Why it matters for sales teams
Scam Likely is a stronger warning than a spam label. It tells the person that the caller may be trying to cheat them. When it appears on a legitimate sales call, the prospect has every reason to let the call ring out, and the label colors how they see the company.
The FCC lists "scam likely" among the categories that call labeling services display, and says these services judge calls based on call patterns, consumer complaints or other means. It also notes that if a number is blocked or labeled as a potential scam or spam, the number may have been spoofed.
Example
A company's sales line starts showing Scam Likely to some prospects, though the team changed nothing. One possible cause is that scammers have been spoofing the number, so the complaints and call patterns tied to it are not the company's own. The FCC says that when people call to report that a number showed up on their caller ID, it is likely that number has been spoofed.
Scam Likely vs Spam Likely
Spam Likely suggests a call is unwanted. Scam Likely suggests it is fraudulent. Both are forms of call labeling, and the wording varies by carrier.