Scammer Guardian FAQ

This page answers the most common questions about Scammer Guardian, including how setup works, what happens to legitimate callers, pricing details, supported phones, privacy and data handling, cancellation policy, and how Scammer Guardian compares to other call screening apps.

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Getting started

What do I need to get started?

You and your parent (or whoever you're protecting) each need an iPhone or Android smartphone. You install the Scammer Guardian app on both phones. Setup takes about 5 minutes total, with most of that on your parent's phone, and only one time.

How long does setup take?

Account signup: 30 seconds. Your phone setup: 1 minute. Your parent's phone setup: 2 minutes. Whitelist import: automatic.

Do I need to physically be with my parent to set them up?

No. We have a guided remote setup walkthrough, so you can do it over a video call. Many adult children set up their parents over FaceTime in under 10 minutes.

Will my parent need to do anything ongoing?

No. After the one-time setup, they answer their phone exactly as they always have. The protection runs silently in the background.

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How the AI works

How does the AI know it's a scam?

The AI is trained on thousands of real scam call patterns. It listens for red flags: pressure tactics, urgency, threats of arrest, requests for payment (especially gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), government impersonation, and emotional manipulation. It catches warning signs humans often miss because it isn't fooled by tone, accent, or apparent authority.

What if a real caller gets blocked?

Real callers identify themselves naturally when the AI asks "Who's calling?" The AI is trained to recognize legitimate intent (a doctor's office confirming an appointment, a delivery driver looking for an address) and pass those through. In our internal data, fewer than 1% of legitimate first-time callers are blocked. If an error happens, you can correct it in one tap from the SMS alert.

Can the AI be tricked?

The AI is harder to trick than a human because it doesn't have emotional reactions, can't be rushed, and doesn't trust caller ID. Sophisticated scammers can sometimes get past the first layer of screening, which is why Calling Premium ($39/mo) includes additional layers (GPT-4o, voice clone detection) for higher-risk targets.

Does the AI listen to the entire call?

No. The AI screens incoming calls, meaning it talks to the caller before deciding whether to connect them. Once a call is connected to your parent, the AI is gone. We don't record or analyze the conversation between your parent and a verified caller. (Privacy matters.)

What languages does the AI speak?

English only as of April 2026. Spanish is in development for late 2026.

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Pricing and billing

How much does Scammer Guardian cost?

$29/month for Calling Base, $39/month for Calling Premium, $9/month for Texting Base add-on, $14/month for Texting Premium add-on. All prices per protected line. 7-day free trial.

Is there a free version?

No. Real-time AI screening costs us money per call. We can't offer it free.

Do you have a free trial?

Yes: 7 days, with credit card required to start. Cancel any time before day 8 with no charge.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. No contracts, no fees, no questions. Cancel from your dashboard. Protection stays active until the end of your current billing period.

Do you offer refunds?

Within 14 days of your first paid charge, yes. Email support@scammerguardian.com.

Do you have annual pricing?

Not yet. Coming mid-2026.

Do you offer discounts for multiple lines?

Each line is billed separately for individual signups. Volume pricing is available for 50+ seats (institutional). See /for-credit-unions.

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Compatibility

What phones does Scammer Guardian work with?

iPhones running iOS 15 or later, and Android phones running Android 11 or later. Most phones from 2020 onward are supported.

Does it work with my parent's carrier?

Yes. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Mobile, Mint Mobile, Visible, Spectrum Mobile, Cricket, Xfinity Mobile, and most prepaid carriers. We don't change carriers. We work alongside whatever carrier your parent has now.

Does it work on landlines?

Not yet. Our landline product (a small hardware device that sits between the wall jack and the phone) is in development for late 2026. Join the waitlist on our homepage.

Does it work outside the US?

Currently US only. Canada and UK are on the roadmap for late 2026.

Does my parent need to change their phone number?

No. They keep their existing number, carrier, and phone. Nothing about their phone changes.

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What gets blocked, what gets through

What kinds of scams does it block?

The most common ones we see daily: government impersonation (IRS, Social Security, Medicare), grandparent scams (someone claiming a grandchild is in trouble), tech support scams (fake Microsoft or Apple), Medicare fraud, lottery scams, fake charity solicitations, romance scam first-contact calls, and AI-voice-clone scams.

Will telemarketers get blocked?

Most legitimate telemarketers identify themselves clearly and pass through. Aggressive or deceptive telemarketers are usually blocked. You can adjust sensitivity in your dashboard.

What about appointment reminder calls (doctor, dentist)?

These almost always pass through because they identify themselves immediately ("Hi, this is the reminder system at Dr. Patterson's office for your appointment tomorrow at 2pm"). You can also whitelist medical providers to guarantee they ring through.

What about delivery drivers (UPS, FedEx, Amazon)?

These pass through because they identify themselves. You can whitelist by area code if your parent regularly receives deliveries.

What about political robocalls?

Most political robocalls are blocked because they don't identify a specific person and use canned recordings. You can adjust this in your dashboard if you want them to pass through.

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Privacy and security

Are calls recorded?

Only the AI's conversation with the caller (before the call is connected to your parent). Once a call is connected, no recording happens. Recordings are auto-deleted after 90 days.

Where are recordings stored?

In encrypted Cloudflare R2 storage. Only you (the guardian) can access recordings from your dashboard.

Does Scammer Guardian sell my data?

No. We don't sell, share, or license caller or call data to anyone. Our business model is subscription only.

Is the AI calling my parent's contacts?

No. The AI never calls anyone. It only answers incoming calls.

Is one-party consent legal in my state?

We comply with all state recording laws. The AI greets callers with notice that the call is being screened, which satisfies two-party consent in states that require it.

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Your account data and call history are retained for 30 days after cancellation in case you reactivate. After 30 days, all data is permanently deleted.

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Comparison to other services

How is Scammer Guardian different from Nomorobo?

Nomorobo blocks numbers on its blocklist (~5 million known robocallers). It misses any new scam number and any live-human scammer. Scammer Guardian uses AI to screen every unknown caller in real time, so it catches new scams and live callers, not just known numbers.

How is Scammer Guardian different from RoboKiller?

RoboKiller is similar to Nomorobo with the addition of "answer bots": pre-recorded audio that pranks scammers. RoboKiller is built for general consumers annoyed by spam. Scammer Guardian is built for protecting seniors from scams that cost them money. Different products for different goals.

How is Scammer Guardian different from Hiya?

Hiya powers carrier-level spam labeling (T-Mobile Scam Shield, Samsung Smart Call). It tells you a call is probably spam, but the call still rings on your parent's phone, and a senior who answers can still be scammed. Scammer Guardian intercepts the call so it never reaches your parent at all.

How is Scammer Guardian different from my carrier's spam protection?

Carrier spam protection (Verizon Call Filter, AT&T ActiveArmor, T-Mobile Scam Shield) is mostly labeling: it warns the recipient that a call may be spam. The phone still rings, your parent still answers, the scam still works if it gets past their judgment. Scammer Guardian doesn't trust the recipient to make the right call. The AI makes it for them.

Should I use Scammer Guardian INSTEAD of carrier spam protection, or with it?

You can use both. There's no conflict. Most families turn off the carrier service after switching because Scammer Guardian's coverage is broader.

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Account and dashboard

Where do I see what was blocked?

Your guardian dashboard at scammerguardian.com/dashboard. You'll see every screened call with the AI's verdict, reasoning, transcript, and recording.

How do I add a contact to the whitelist?

Three ways: (1) auto-import from your parent's contacts during setup, (2) tap "Add to whitelist" on any blocked call's SMS alert, (3) add manually from your dashboard.

How do I add a number to the block list?

From the dashboard, or by responding to any SMS alert.

Can I have multiple guardians for one protected line?

Not yet. Currently one guardian per line. Multi-guardian access (for siblings sharing responsibility for a parent) is on the roadmap.

Can I export my call history?

Yes, as CSV from your dashboard.

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Still have questions?

Email support@scammerguardian.com. We respond within 24 hours, usually faster.