Today, Verizon announced a newly upgraded Call Filter app that will help cut back on the amount of spam calls. According to Verizon, this app already stopped more than 42 billion unwanted calls.
The Call Filter app can be downloaded for free for basic features like Spam Detection, Spam Filter, Spam and blocked call logs, allow numbers, and report spam. You can also upgrade to the Plus version for Caller ID, Spam Lookup, Personal Block List, Spam Risk Meter, and Block by category.
Here is how Verizon describes the call filter app service:
Verizon Call Filter helps protect you from unwanted calls and lets you decide who can reach you. Call Filter detects spam and blocks high-risk spam calls by forwarding to voicemail. Call Filter is for mobile phones and select standalone smartwatches.
“To help improve security and identify the origin of unwanted spam calls and ads, Verizon employs an innovative Know Your Customer (KYC) Scoring System, a system that allows Verizon to calculate a reputation score for other networks where Verizon may receive voice traffic. These other networks may be conduits for spammers, and the KYC system can help identify when incoming calls from these networks are likely spam. Verizon was recently awarded a patent for its work in developing the KYC system.” Verizon said in a statement sent to Cord Cutters News.
In 2020 there were 46 billion robocalls or scam calls in the US and that number has continued to go up. It is reported that as many as 60% of all calls in 2021 were robocalls. Now, Verizon hopes to put a stop to many of these with this newly updated call filter app.