Why are my Skype calls being flagged as spam?

July 8, 2020 10:57 AM

I use Skype to make work calls because my mobile reception at home doesn't work well (and I need to record the calls, and Skype works well for that). Recently, several people have mentioned that my number shows up as "potential spam" in their caller ID.

I have my number connected to Skype and verified. I've had the number myself for more than a decade. I don't think it's happening when I make calls directly through my phone, but I'm not sure. I see it on my phone if I try calling my own number through Skype. When I call some numbers, it seems to be automatically rejected (a few people have told me that their phones don't ring when I'm trying to call them for a scheduled meeting). To be clear, I'm not spamming anyone. I make a handful of calls every day. It seems like a Skype problem, but do I need to call the phone carriers to somehow get my number taken off a list? What else can I do?

posted by pinochiette to Technology (4 answers total)

Is it a paid through skype number, or are you having skype show your phone number as the caller id? If it's the latter, this could be due to fears of caller id spoofing which carriers have been trying to crack down on. https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-218765/ for example.
posted by kbuxton at 11:24 AM on July 8, 2020

It's the latter...
posted by pinochiette at 11:36 AM on July 8, 2020

BTW, verizon's own customer service center shows up as potential spam on my phone, so guessing the filter they have is very broad. Perhaps it's anyone not on the recipient's contact list?
posted by maxwelton at 11:41 AM on July 8, 2020

It might be worth paying for a Skype number, which you can then forward to your regular number. I did that for a while and it was seamless. I believe it was $65 for a number. That way you are presenting a legit number.
posted by Mo Nickels at 5:17 PM on July 8, 2020