Why your phone may be receiving calls from 'Scam Likely'

NATIONWIDE -- You may have noticed a relatively new feature on your cell phone, labeling certain calls as "scam likely." This feature, launched by one company just a few months ago, is working to prevent potential scammers from causing harm.

Phone service provider T-Mobile recently launched the “Scam ID” and “Scam Block” features for its customers.

“Scam ID,” which has been enabled on all T-Mobile phones since April, screens incoming calls against a database of thousands of known scammer numbers. If a scammer is detected, T-Mobile labels the call “Scam Likely” so customers know to beware if they do choose to answer.

“Scam Block,” which can be enabled by T-Mobile customers, immediately blocks “scam likely” calls so they never even come through. 

In a release, T-Mobile said the features are aiming to “safeguard customers from phone scams that cost Americans millions of dollars every year.”

The BBB says a total of 928 scams have been reported in North Carolina alone since the start of this year, and nationally that number is an alarming 30,692.