Troubleshooting Calls from Maricopa County Jail: Unblocking GTL Caller IDs and Blocking/Unblocking Numbers
Missing calls from Maricopa County Jail? Your phone carrier is probably filtering the GTL caller ID as spam. Here's how to fix it—or stop the calls entirely if that's what you need.
Maricopa County's inmate phone system runs through Global Tel*Link (GTL), and that's key when calls suddenly stop coming through. The most common culprit? GTL's caller ID numbers get flagged as spam or robocalls by your carrier, so your phone never rings - or the call goes straight to voicemail. One more thing to know: calls to cell phones won't go through unless you've set up an AdvancePay (prepaid) account with GTL.
If your loved one says they're calling but nothing shows up on your end, check your recent calls and voicemail for blocked or "Spam Risk" entries. GTL inmate calls typically display as 480-448-2204 or 480-409-2926, and carriers often flag these as spam. When that happens, you can do everything right and still miss the call - it gets filtered before you ever have a chance to answer.
- Write down the GTL caller ID numbers - Tell your carrier you need calls from 480-448-2204 and 480-409-2926 to come through.
- Call your cell carrier’s support - Explain that these are GTL inmate-call caller IDs that are being flagged as spam/robocalls, and ask the rep to unblock/whitelist them on your line.
- Ask about spam/robocall filtering settings - Some carriers have network-level spam blocking that doesn’t change just by saving a contact; ask the rep to check any account-level spam controls.
- Confirm the fix - After the carrier makes changes, have your loved one try calling again so you can verify the calls ring through normally.
Note: Even if your carrier unblocks the GTL caller ID, calls to cell phone numbers can’t be placed unless the recipient has an AdvancePay (prepaid) account with GTL.
Want to stop receiving inmate calls? You can block them mid-call. When the recording prompts you, press 7–6. Changed your mind later? Submit a written request to have your number unblocked.
Written Block Unblock
- ✓ Email: MCSO_Inmate_Telephones@MCSO.Maricopa.gov
- ✓ Fax: 602-876-0055
- ✓ Mail: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Telecommunications Division/ITS, 550 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
Tip: In your written request, clearly state whether you want a number blocked or unblocked and include the phone number(s) involved, along with enough identifying information for staff to match the request to the right account.
Closing
- ✓ If calls aren’t ringing, look for spam filtering and reference GTL caller IDs 480-448-2204 and 480-409-2926.
- ✓ Call your phone carrier and ask them to unblock/whitelist those GTL numbers.
- ✓ If you want calls to stop immediately, press 7–6 when prompted during a call.
- ✓ For a block/unblock change in writing, email MCSO_Inmate_Telephones@MCSO.Maricopa.gov (fax and mail options are also available).
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