Scammers get dealt another blow. T-Mobile and UScellular announced they’re delivering STIR/SHAKEN number verification across networks marking another milestone in the industry’s ongoing fight to protect consumers from scams and unwanted robocalls. Now, when a call comes in from T-Mobile to UScellular’s network (or vice versa), the companies will be able to validate it’s coming from the real phone number displayed in Caller ID, providing customers better ability to make decisions on which calls to answer. Customers using T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile or UScellular have greater peace of mind that calls are not being spoofed.
“Scammers and spammers are constantly evolving. This summer we launched our Un-carrier move, Scam Shield, and we’re not letting up in our fight to stop scammers,” said Abdul Saad, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at T-Mobile. “We already have more cross-network STIR/SHAKEN partnerships than AT&T and Verizon combined. And Scam Shield, free to our customers, is the industry’s most comprehensive solution for fighting scams and robocalls. But this battle takes industry-wide action, and we stand ready to work with everyone to help them adopt STIR/SHAKEN and help keep consumers safe from scammers at this critical time.”
“At UScellular, we have our customers’ backs and are committed to helping them avoid unwanted and deceptive robocalls. Teaming up with T-Mobile allows us to provide our customers stronger protection in the ongoing fight against these unsolicited calls,” said Michael S. Irizarry, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Engineering and Information Services at UScellular. “When wireless providers come together like this, it is a win for consumers and businesses, and we will continue to enhance the tools and solutions we offer to keep our customers safeguarded from scams.”
In summer 2020, T-Mobile launched another Un-carrier move: Scam Shield, an unparalleled set of free solutions to protect customers against scams and unwanted robocalls. With Scam Shield, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers get automatic and free scam call detection as well as the option for free Caller ID and scam call blocking. According to research this summer from analysts at Global Data, T-Mobile’s network is already 30% better than AT&T and Verizon at identifying scam calls.
And now, T-Mobile offers consumers more than 120 devices that can display either “Number Verified” or “T-Mobile Verified” in Caller ID or, depending on the device, a check mark in the call log. This works on any call coming from a compatible mobile phone at T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, or another company that has implemented STIR/SHAKEN with T-Mobile to verify the source of the call.
T-Mobile leads the industry in implementing the FCC STIR/SHAKEN standards, with eleven cross-network partnerships for number verification. T-Mobile was first to announce readiness for the FCC-recommended STIR/SHAKEN standards in November 2018 and first in the wireless industry to implement STIR/SHAKEN when it launched Number Verified (formally Caller Verified) on the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in January 2019.
The FCC requires STIR/SHAKEN standards be implemented by June 30, 2021 to digitally ensure that a call is in fact from the number displayed on Caller ID. The acronym stands for Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN). More calls will be verified over time as more device providers display number verification and as more network providers implement the standards.
For more information on all the ways T-Mobile is protecting customers, including capable handsets, visit https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/call-protection. For more information on how to avoid phone scams and keep yourself and loved ones safe during COVID-19, check out this Q&A with security expert Carrie Kerskie in the T-Mobile Newsroom.
About T-Mobile
T-Mobile U.S. Inc. is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint.
About UScellular
UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. It is ranked #1 in the North Central Region in the J.D. Power 2020 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study – Volume 2. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com.
