Our free Scam Shield ™ app, formerly Name ID, gives you control over T-Mobile’s anti-scam protections like Scam ID, Scam Block, and Caller ID, and is available to all our customers.
On this page:
What is the T-Mobile Scam Shield app?
- Scam Shield app does not require an add-on feature to work and is available for Android & iOS phone users.
- Free and included with the T-Mobile Scam Shield app only:
- View Caller ID Name.
- Caller ID opt-in.
- Turn on Scam Block.
- Report telemarketer, fraud and scam calls.
- Scam block and Scam likely enabled
- Report unwanted or misidentified calls
- Mark favorites
- Turn on Scam Shield Premium feature – Android only. (Subscription fee charged) iOS subscription available via web or T-Mobile app.
Latest app versions
Improvements
Several updates were made to enhance app accessibility.
Fixes
- Users with certain account setups no longer see incorrect upgrade prompts for Visual Voicemail.
- Users with specific devices no longer see the first-time startup sequence after every device restart.
- Device permission requests on first-time startup have been adjusted.
- The app will properly re-request device permissions required for authentication if they were previously denied.
Improvements: Several updates were made to enhance app accessibility.
Why did I get a message about Name ID?
T-Mobile has migrated all the great features from Name ID into the Scam Shield app and we’re retiring Name ID on April 12, 2021. After that it won’t work anymore, so you’ll want to download Scam Shield from the app store and set it up now. We’ll attempt to systematically switch you over to the Scam Shield app if you haven’t downloaded it after April 12, 2021.
What you need to use it
- T-Mobile Scam Shield app is available for Android Kit Kat (5.0) OS or higher and iOS 10 or higher phones.
- A T-Mobile account.
- You can start a free trial of the Scam Shield service.
- At the end of the trial, you'll receive an option to purchase a subscription to the service. If you agree, you get the full service and will be billed each month for it.
How to use the app
See how the Scam Shield app works with a simulator for Apple iOS and Android devices.
- If you use a VPN or VPN app, turn it off while you get set up.
- Tap the Scam Shield icon.
- Tap the Settings icon in the bottom-right of the screen.
- From here, you can manage and view the following settings:
- Software version: Scroll down to the bottom to view current version.
- My Account: Account type
- Category Manager
- Set what happens 'When blocking calls', such as sending the call to voicemail.
- Caller category voicemail filter
- Learn more
- Set what happens 'When blocking calls', such as sending the call to voicemail.
- Caller ID Preferences
- View your outbound Caller ID profile
- Incoming Caller ID status
- Notifications
- Turn off or turn on notifications for:
- A Scam likely call is blocked
- A caller is blocked
- A call category is sent to voicemail
- Turn off or turn on notifications for:
- Support: Report app or account issues
If you have a Dual SIM with eSIM device, like the iPhone Xs, you can only block/unblock numbers on the line that was active when you installed the Scam Shield app. Favorites feature comes included with the free Scam Shield. To manage call categories and blocked numbers, upgrade to the Scam Shield Premium services.
- Tap the Scam Shield icon > Activity to open the call log screen. A list of callers appears.
- Tap the name of a contact to block. If some contacts are already blocked, they are on the block list.
- Tap Manage > Block to change the callers access.
Search callers
You’ll be able to search through your call log with the included free Scam Shield access. To use Reverse number lookup, upgrade to the Scam Shield Premium services.
- Tap the Scam Shield icon > Activity to open the call log screen. A list of callers appears. If a list of callers if not present, click the Menu icon in the upper left hand corner of the screen and then tap All incoming calls.
- Start typing a name or number to search your call logs.
- To search for a number that is not in your call logs, tap Reverse number lookup search bar at the top of the screen. If the owner of the number is known, it will be displayed.
Subscribe
To subscribe outside of the trial period, download or access the Scam Shield app and follow the prompts to subscribe. If unable to subscribe, turn off Wi-Fi and check the network connection. iOS devices can not subscribe/unsubscribe in the Scam Shield app.
To subscribe during the trial:
- Turn on the new T-Mobile device and connect to the network to start the trial.
- Verify that notifications appear in the notification bar about Scam Shield.
- Click More Info.
- Perform one of the following:
- View the time remaining on the trial.
- Click Opt Out to leave the trial early.
- Click Subscribe to sign up for Scam Shield for a monthly charge. If you're not able to subscribe, turn off Wi-Fi and check network connection.
To unsubscribe:
- Tap the Scam Shield icon to open the app.
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Tap My Account.
- Tap Unsubscribe from Scam Shield.
- Tap the Scam Shield icon > Activity to open the call log screen. A list of callers appears.
- Tap the name of a contact to view the following caller details (some caller have more details if they have a WhitePages profile, like a business):
- Name
- Phone Number
- City and State
- Options to Favorite, Block caller, or Send to VM
- Report caller – allows you to report the caller as spam.
- Spam likely indicator
If you're running into trouble with the app, check out our troubleshooting tips.
Scam Shield: Capable device req’d. Turning on Scam Block might block calls you want; disable any time.
FAQs about Name ID changes
Why are you changing from Name ID to Scam Shield?
We launched Scam Shield in summer 2020 to give our customers the best protection against scammers. Scam Shield is an upgrade to Name ID with even more tools and functionality. The new Scam Shield app gives you a ‘command center’ for even more call control and insight over who can reach you on your phone.
To get Scam Shield, make sure your OS is up date. (Android 5.0) OS or higher and iOS 10 or higher. Click here to learn more about Scam Shield.
I had set up my Personal Number Bocking list on my Name ID app, will those work on Scam Shield?
No. Personal Number Blocking lists will need to be recreated when updating to the Scam Shield app as they do not transfer to the new app. However we have good news! As part of the improvements built into Scam Shield, now when you create your Personal Number Blocking list it will be saved at the network level, no just the app, so even if you change devices or apps, your blocking list will carry over in the future.
What do I have to do to get Scam Shield?
Most customers will automatically receive a notification to open the Scam Shield app and see the new experience. Depending on your device and OS, you may need to download the app from the Google Play store. We encourage all of our Name ID customers to download the Scam Shield app today to enjoy the enhanced scam protection experience.
When will this change take place?
We encourage all of our Name ID customers to download the Scam Shield app today to start enjoying the new UI and enhanced scam protections. After April 12, 2021 we will no longer support previous versions of the Name ID app.
Does Scam Shield cost more?
No, Scam Shield Premium costs the same as Name ID Premium service. There is no cost difference
- With Scam Shield Premium, customers can send entire categories of calls including telemarketers, political solicitations, and fundraising calls directly to voicemail.
- You can also do Reverse Number Lookup for unknown callers and create Always Block lists that live on the network, not just your contact list, so your preferences will stay with you from device to device.
- Customers will also get our voicemail-to-text feature, so they will receive a transcription of their voicemail via an SMS message, or email or in the Android Visual Voicemail app.