In a bid to fortify Android users against insidious scams, Google has deployed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fraud detection system, engineered to shield personal data from malicious schemes.
“These functionalities are meticulously designed to combat deceptive conversational scams, which may initially appear innocuous but can swiftly escalate into perilous scenarios,” Google stated. “An increasing number of fraudsters are now deploying number spoofing tactics to masquerade as reputable entities, thereby misleading unsuspecting individuals.”
To bolster its fraud prevention mechanisms, Google has collaborated with financial institutions to gain deeper insights into the evolving nature of these deceptive tactics. This partnership has facilitated the development of sophisticated AI models capable of discerning suspicious interaction patterns and issuing real-time warnings—all while maintaining user privacy.
These AI-driven safeguards operate entirely on-device, ensuring that users receive instant alerts when a conversation exhibits hallmarks of fraudulent intent. Upon receiving a warning, individuals can choose to dismiss it, report the suspected scam, or block the sender. The feature is automatically activated but only applies to communications originating from phone numbers not stored in the user’s contact list.
The tech conglomerate has reaffirmed that all user conversations remain strictly confidential. However, if a user opts to flag a message as spam, details regarding the sender, along with the most recent chat exchanges, are relayed to Google and telecommunications providers for further scrutiny.
Initially, this feature is being rolled out in English across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, with an expansion to additional regions scheduled for a later phase.
Moreover, a parallel scam-detection feature tailored for voice calls is being extended to all English-speaking users of Pixel 9 and later devices in the U.S. This call-screening enhancement was originally introduced in November 2024.
It is important to highlight that this functionality remains disabled by default, affording users full discretion over its activation. The AI processes call audio on a transient basis, ensuring that conversations with contacts remain unaffected.
“If activated, Scam Detection will emit a discreet tone at both the commencement and intermittently during the call to inform participants that the feature is engaged,” Google elaborated. “Users retain the ability to deactivate Scam Detection at any moment—either for a single call or as a blanket setting for all future conversations.”
This initiative follows closely on the heels of Google’s recent disclosure that over 1 billion Chrome users have opted into Safe Browsing’s Enhanced Protection mode, a security framework designed to thwart online threats.
“When Enhanced Protection is enabled, users benefit from cutting-edge AI and machine learning models that can swiftly identify perilous URLs engaged in phishing, social engineering, and fraudulent schemes,” the company stated.
“Safe Browsing’s Enhanced Protection leverages sophisticated algorithms to detect URLs crafted to mimic legitimate domains. Additionally, it employs advanced AI methodologies to safeguard users from potentially hazardous downloads.”
