The wrong caller ID on phones seems to be a common problem these days. You call someone, and the name which displays in the receiver’s phone is not yours. Many people ask “Why is my phone showing the wrong name?”
In instances like Samsung’s “Smart Call” (although “smart” may not be an apt name in some cases) they use a database of names linked to numbers.
It is then easy for you to, for example, detect if an incoming call is potentially spam or even fraudulent.
The problem though, is when they get it wrong. VERY wrong!
A wrong caller ID example
Let’s take JustSEO for example. If you use a later model Samsung phone to call us, the CNAM (caller name) will display “Ozbestbuyonline” – a company which does not even exist!
Well, it did, but closed down in 2015 and appears to have been an online eBay store. It never had anything to do with our phone number.
This may even have legal ramifications. What if the CNAM being displayed belongs to a company which (for example) had legal problems? Or was associated with defrauding customers?
But at the very least, it is problematic from a business perspective because it has to be explained all the time “Who is best buy online?”
Fixing the caller ID name
So, how do you fix the wrong caller ID in Smart Call?
Not through your network, EG Optus or Telstra. In my experience, they don’t even know what the CNAM is! As for Samsung, even though it is their phone which is the problem, they cannot fix it either.
They use a third party service through which you can submit a request for a change.
Simply go to https://hiyahelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new and submit a request to ask for a change or removal.
If, for some reason, you have been hit with a spam warning from Samsung attached to your number, you can request that to be removed as well.
CNAM FAQs
What is the CNAM?
CNAM is like CLID, except it displays a name rather than a number.
Where does the CNAM come from?
For Samsung phones, hiyahelp sends the CNAM to callers who ring your number.
