T-Mobile Scam Shield
About Scam Shield
Scam Shield (known as NameID during development) is one of T-Mobile’s premiere mobile service add-ons designed to provide network-level call identification, filtering and blocking for T-Mobile customers.
What this means for a customer is that Spam, Scam, and Telemarketing calls can be identified and blocked in the network before they even get connected to your device, keeping customers safe from scammers, spammers, and annoying telemarketers. Additionally, subscribers also had the ability to block specific numbers or people, providing increased protection from unwanted callers and harassment without relying on 3rd party apps.
Project Overview
Role & Responsibilities
- UX Design Lead
- Native App Design
- User Research
- Prototyping
- Accessibility
Platforms
iOS
Android
Major Milestones
Public Launch: 2018
Project Summary
I led UX design for two major releases of T-Mobile’s scam protection platform: the original NameID app in 2018—an industry first among major U.S. carriers—and the full redesign and rebrand as Scam Shield in 2020. The product gave users direct control over scam blocking, caller ID, and number privacy in a native mobile experience. I owned the design process from early concepts through final execution across iOS and Android, helping shape a product that reached millions and played a key role in blocking billions of unwanted calls.
The Problem
T-Mobile customers had limited visibility into how their network was protecting them from unwanted calls. The legacy experience was fragmented across account portals and settings, making it difficult for users to enable or understand available protections.
My Role
I was the lead designer across both phases of the product—from the initial architecture and MVP flows of NameID, to the full feature redesign and UI overhaul for Scam Shield. I collaborated with internal stakeholders and third-party vendors to ship a cohesive, privacy-focused tool customers could trust.
Approach
I worked closely with product and engineering from the earliest stages to define key use cases, simplify feature scope, and structure core flows for scam call blocking, reverse number lookup, and number privacy tools. My goal was to translate complex backend services into simple, user-first interfaces that inspired confidence. I designed modular layouts and visual patterns that scaled across iOS and Android while maintaining a native feel for each platform. Throughout the design process, I particular attention to data sensitivity and fostering user trust with clear, simple design language and familiar UX patterns.
As the product matured, I led usability reviews, oversaw QA on visual polish and UX integrity, and partnered with external vendors to ensure consistent execution. I also collaborated with the product team to streamline the subscription model and reduce friction across key activation points.
Post-launch Redesign
Following the success of the initial NameID launch, the product was rebranded and expanded as Scam Shield in 2020. I led the redesign effort to reflect the new brand identity, integrate additional features like one-tap scam reporting and number masking, and align the app more closely with T-Mobile’s broader marketing and customer privacy initiatives.
Customer Impact
- The original NameID app launched in 2018 as one of the first scam-blocking and caller ID apps offered by a major U.S. wireless carrier, giving customers unprecedented control over call privacy and protection. It laid the foundation for broader adoption of network-level scam filtering services.
- Scam Shield launched in 2020 as a major redesign and rebrand, reaching millions of customers as part of a national campaign.
- T-Mobile later reported blocking over 21 billion scam calls in 2021, a figure supported by tools like Scam Shield and its underlying network intelligence.
- The design system and UX patterns developed across both launches influenced other privacy and identity features within the T-Mobile app ecosystem.