Managing Voice & SMS Spam Labeling

WebFones Reputation & Compliance Guide

Business communications today are evaluated by carrier analytics systems designed to protect consumers from unwanted calls and messages. Occasionally, legitimate business numbers may be labeled as “Spam” or experience SMS filtering.

It is important to understand:

> Voice spam labeling and SMS filtering are two completely separate systems.
They operate independently and must be managed independently.

This guide explains how each system works, what WebFones does to protect your reputation, and recommended best practices.

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Voice Call Spam Labeling

How Voice Labeling Works

Mobile carriers and third-party analytics providers evaluate outbound calls using:

• STIR/SHAKEN authentication status
• Calling behavior patterns
• Volume and answer rates
• Consumer complaint reports
• Historical number reputation

Calls may display as:

• “Spam Likely”
• “Spam Risk”
• “Scam Likely”
• “Potential Spam”

These labels are applied by the terminating carrier or handset ecosystem, not the originating service provider.

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WebFones Voice Protection Standards

WebFones implements industry-leading protections:

✔ STIR/SHAKEN with Full Attestation (A)

All eligible outbound calls are signed with Full Attestation (A) — the highest authentication level available.

This means:

• Caller ID ownership is verified
• Spoofing risk is reduced
• Carrier trust scoring improves

While authentication significantly improves legitimacy, carriers may still apply spam labels based on independent analytics.

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Voice Reputation Best Practices

To maintain strong voice reputation:

• Register numbers through FreeCallerRegistry (FCR)
• Register your business identity at listyourself.net
• Avoid frequent caller ID changes
• Avoid high volumes of short-duration calls
• Maintain consistent outbound patterns

If spam labeling occurs, WebFones will:

• Review traffic patterns and authentication status
• Assist with documentation and escalation
• Guide submission to reputation providers
• Recommend corrective adjustments if necessary

Our objective is structured, professional remediation — not guesswork.

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SMS / Messaging Spam Filtering (A2P 10DLC)

How SMS Filtering Works

SMS reputation operates under a completely different framework:

• A2P 10DLC registration requirements
• Brand and campaign registration via The Campaign Registry (TCR)
• Content classification
• Consent tracking
• Carrier-level filtering algorithms

SMS filtering decisions are independent of voice authentication.

A number may have:

• Excellent voice reputation
• But restricted SMS throughput or filtering

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WebFones SMS Compliance Standards

WebFones supports:

• A2P 10DLC brand registration
• Campaign classification and approval
• Consent management enforcement
• Opt-out compliance
• Throughput optimization

Compliance reduces filtering risk and improves delivery consistency.

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SMS Best Practice Recommendations

To protect your primary business number:

1. Separate Communication Types

Use your primary number for:

• Person-to-person conversations
• Sales and service follow-up
• Transactional messaging

Use a secondary dedicated number for:

• Repetitive marketing campaigns
• Promotional messaging
• High-volume outreach

Segmentation protects long-term number reputation.

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2. Avoid Using Your Main Number for Repetitive Marketing

Using your primary published number for recurring marketing campaigns increases complaint probability and filtering exposure.

A separate marketing number reduces risk to your core business identity.

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3. Consider Dedicated Marketing Platforms

For structured or large-scale campaigns, consider:

• Dedicated SMS marketing systems
• CRM-integrated messaging tools
• External platforms such as Podium or similar providers

This allows:

• Campaign isolation
• Reputation containment
• Higher throughput without impacting your primary voice identity

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Monitoring & Resolution Support

Spam labeling systems are dynamic and continuously evolving.

WebFones provides:

• Ongoing monitoring of industry and carrier policy changes
• Guidance on traffic behavior adjustments
• Assistance with escalation when mislabeling occurs
• Structured remediation support

While final labeling decisions remain with carriers and device ecosystems, WebFones acts as your advocate and technical partner throughout the process.

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Summary

Voice and SMS reputation systems are separate and must be managed independently.

WebFones ensures:

• Highest-level STIR/SHAKEN authentication for voice
• Full A2P 10DLC compliance for messaging
• Best-practice segmentation guidance
• Active support if reputation issues arise

By combining authentication, compliance, number registration, segmentation, and responsive remediation, organizations can significantly reduce spam-labeling risk while maintaining trusted communication channels.