T-Mobile has unveiled its 2023 Scam and Robocall Report, shedding light on the success of its Scam Shield in combating fraudulent calls. In the past year, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield efficiently identified or blocked an astonishing 19.8 billion calls, equating to an impressive 628 spam calls every second. This accomplishment can be attributed to the continuous enhancements in T-Mobile’s network technology, incorporating machine learning and AI, and the collaborative efforts with government interventions. Consequently, T-Mobile customers experienced a notable 51% reduction in scam calls compared to the previous year.
The significance of these findings lies in the context of the broader issue of scams in the United States, where citizens collectively lost a staggering $10 billion to fraudulent activities in 2023. As scammers and spammers show no signs of slowing down, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield emerges as a crucial tool for individuals seeking robust protection against fraudsters.
T-Mobile’s President of Technology, Ulf Ewaldsson, emphasized the evolving landscape of scams, highlighting that scammers are becoming more sophisticated. However, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield remains at the forefront of innovation, continuously adapting its technology to combat evolving scam tactics. The report reveals that Scam Shield identified an astonishing 628 scam calls per second in 2023, demonstrating the relentless nature of scam attempts.
The reduction in scam calls is attributed to several factors, including the implementation of error code 608 by broader service providers, signaling blocked calls and leading to a decline in retry attempts. Additionally, the widespread adoption of STIR/SHAKEN call identification, following T-Mobile’s initiative, contributed to a significant decrease in caller ID spoofing, which accounts for the majority of incoming mobile calls.
T-Mobile’s commitment to prioritizing customer safety, scam prevention, and ease of use is evident in the report. By November 2023, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield outperformed competitors by blocking an impressive 17 billion unwanted calls, surpassing Verizon’s 8.2 billion blocked calls in the same period.
The report also delves into the tactics employed by scammers, emphasizing their adaptability to seasonal trends. Notably, healthcare-related scams and financial scams continued to be prevalent, with scammers targeting consumers aged 55 and older. Interestingly, vehicle warranty scams, a significant concern in previous years, nearly disappeared following a 2022 FCC cease-and-desist order.
Geographically, certain states, such as Texas, California, Florida, New York, and North Carolina, faced higher volumes of scam attempts. Texas consistently ranked highest in scam calls, particularly related to Medicare scams, targeting adults aged 55 and older.
Looking ahead, the report identifies the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scams, presenting new challenges for consumers. T-Mobile acknowledges the evolving landscape and remains proactive by investing in AI technologies to enhance network-level protection. T-Mobile’s Scam Shield stands out as a formidable defense, updating protections every six minutes to ensure its customers are shielded from the latest scamming techniques. Customers can activate Scam Block through the Scam Shield app or by dialing #662# from a T-Mobile device, providing network-level protection against “Scam Likely” calls. Additionally, features like Caller ID and STIR/SHAKEN call verification empower customers to identify legitimate calls authenticated by the T-Mobile network.
