--- title: "Spam vs. Fraud Calls: 15 Types | Hiya" description: Unwanted calls come in many forms. Explore 15 types of spam and fraud calls, how they differ, and how to protect yourself from phone scams. image: https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/15-Varieties-of-Unwanted-Calls.jpg --- [![Hiya logo](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-new-purple.svg)](https://www.hiya.com/) Solutions Solutions [For Mobile Operators Protect your network](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/operators) [For Businesses Brand your calls](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/businesses) [For People Get the mobile app](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-spam-blocker) ###### Webinar Branded Calling 101 Weekly Webinar Make your company's calls more recognizable. Learn how Hiya can drive value for your business. 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[Read eBook Arrow Right](https://www.hiya.com/resources/ebooks/10-tips-for-customer-friendly-phone-calls) [Get Started Arrow Right](https://www.hiya.com/#audience) [Log in](https://connect.hiya.com/login) [Get started](https://www.hiya.com/#audience) - [Home](https://hiya.com) - [Blog](https://blog.hiya.com) - [Spam vs Fraud: 15 Varieties of Unwanted Calls](https://blog.hiya.com/spam-vs-fraud-15-varieties-of-unwanted-calls) [Scam Trends](https://blog.hiya.com/tag/scam-trends) [Spam & Fraud Protection](https://blog.hiya.com/tag/spam-fraud-protection) # Spam vs Fraud: 15 Varieties of Unwanted Calls [Hiya Team](https://blog.hiya.com/author/hiya-team) Aug. 25, 2022 [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/icon-fb.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.hiya.com/spam-vs-fraud-15-varieties-of-unwanted-calls) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/icon-x.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.hiya.com/spam-vs-fraud-15-varieties-of-unwanted-calls&text=Spam+vs+Fraud%3A+15+Varieties+of+Unwanted+Calls) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/icon-linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.hiya.com/spam-vs-fraud-15-varieties-of-unwanted-calls) ## At a glance ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/15-Varieties-of-Unwanted-Calls.jpg) At Hiya, we define a spam call as a nuisance call. There are two main classifications of unwanted calls: **nuisance calls and fraud calls**. Nuisance calls are simply annoying or bothersome, such as a call from a telemarketer or a survey taker. Fraud calls have no other purpose than to steal the recipient’s money or personal information, like [tax scams](https://blog.hiya.com/scam-of-the-month-irs-tax-scams?hsLang=en) or the [auto warranty scam](https://blog.hiya.com/auto-warranty-scam?hsLang=en). While some spam-fighting services simply add a spam label to all unwanted calls, Hiya’s technology distinguishes between **15 different categories of spam calls.** That empowers users to decide for themselves whether to answer a call.    Hiya’s ability to label different types of spam calls comes from information received from actual phone users. Through Hiya’s trusted partnership phone carriers and manufacturers, users are able to report spam calls, and when they do they can specify what type of spam call it is. Hiya receives more than 1.6 million of these reports each week.           Here are the 15 spam categories that Hiya reports:  | **Nuisance calls** | **Fraud calls** | | --- | --- | | Debt collector | IRS scam | | Telemarketer | Tech support scam | | Political | Vacation scam | | Survey | Tax scam | | Non-profit | Phishing | | Robocaller | Lucky winner scam | | General spam | Extortion | |   | Scam | **How to fight back against spam calls**   Carriers can protect their customers from phone spam and fraud by adding [Hiya Protect](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect), which blocks or labels unwanted calls with high accuracy, without blocking important calls. It is used by phone carriers, mobile phone manufacturers, and network providers who are looking to create a differentiated voice offering and to increase customer satisfaction.   Enterprises can help their customers feel safe answering the phone by adding [Hiya Connect](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect), which enables businesses to display their company name, logo and reason for the call on the recipient’s mobile phone. Branded caller ID identifies who is calling so customers will not be afraid to answer their phones.    Individuals can check with their phone carrier to see if it offers any spam blocking capabilities. If not, ask your carrier to consider adding Hiya Protect. [![banner-hiya-reg](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/banner-hiya-reg.jpg)](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/number-registration) ### Latest Articles ⚡️ - Hiya awarded 16 G2 Summer 2026 badges for branded caller ID Lena Prickett Jul. 9, 2026 - How Canada is leading the fight to stop bank scams Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 26, 2026 - How to check phone numbers for spam labels Michelle Wallace Jun. 9, 2026 ## Related articles ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/rogers-toronto-event-blog-hero.webp) ## [How Canada is leading the fight to stop bank scams](https://blog.hiya.com/how-canada-is-leading-the-fight-to-stop-bank-scams?hsLang=en) Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 26, 2026 ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Blog_How-to-check-phone-numbers-for-spam-labels_B.webp) ## [How to check phone numbers for spam labels](https://blog.hiya.com/how-to-check-phone-numbers-for-spam-labels?hsLang=en) Michelle Wallace Jun. 9, 2026 ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Hiya%20x%20DNA-blog@2x.webp) ## [Hiya and DNA Finland launch network-level call protection](https://blog.hiya.com/hiya-and-dna-finland-launch-network-level-call-protection?hsLang=en) Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 2, 2026 [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-new-purple.svg)](https://www.hiya.com/) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiyainc) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/facebook-1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/hiyainc/) ###### Products - Connect - [Number Registration](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/number-registration) - [Branded Call](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/branded-call) - [View Plans](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/pricing) - Protect - [Spam Analytics](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect/spam-analytics) - [AI Voice Detection](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect/ai-voice-detection) - Apps - [Hiya Spam Blocker](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-spam-blocker) - [Hiya AI Phone](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-ai-phone) ###### Solutions - Company size - [Enterprise](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/enterprise) - [Call Centers](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/call-center) - [Small and Medium](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/businesses) - Service providers - [Operators](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/operators) - [OEMs and technology](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/technology-partners) ###### Considering Hiya? - [Why Hiya](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya) - [How it Works](https://www.hiya.com/how-it-works) - [Customer Stories](https://www.hiya.com/case-studies) - [Voice Intelligence Platform](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya/voice-intelligence-platform) - [Trust Center](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya/trust-center) - [Modern Slavery](https://www.hiya.com/company/modern-slavery) - [About Hiya](https://www.hiya.com/company/about) - [Careers: We're hiring!](https://www.hiya.com/company/careers) - [Contact us](https://www.hiya.com/contact-us) ###### Resources - [Resource Center](https://www.hiya.com/resources) - [Partner Program](https://partners.hiya.com/) - [Get Support](https://hiya.com/support) - [Developer Docs](https://developer.hiya.com/) - [Hiya Blog](https://hiya.com/blog) - [Events](https://www.hiya.com/events) - [Press Kit](https://www.hiya.com/newsroom#press-kit) ![ANAB](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-anab.svg) ![ISO 27001](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-iso27017.png) ![AICPA](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-aicpa.svg) ![IAF](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-iaf.svg) [Privacy Policy](https://www.hiya.com/legal/privacy) [Terms of Service](https://www.hiya.com/legal/terms-of-service) [App Data Privacy Policy](https://www.hiya.com/legal/app-data-protection-and-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hiya Team", "url" : "https://blog.hiya.com/author/hiya-team" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-08T16:51:50.573Z", "datePublished" : "2022-08-25T20:15:00.000Z", "headline" : "Spam vs. Fraud Calls: 15 Types | Hiya", "image" : [ "https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/15-Varieties-of-Unwanted-Calls.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.hiya.com/spam-vs-fraud-15-varieties-of-unwanted-calls", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-logo-3.svg" }, "name" : "Hiya Inc." } } ```