Google is introducing new anti-scam features for Android devices to help users identify fraudulent messages, block suspicious calls and avoid online traps. The update adds an Enhanced Protection mode to Google Messages, alongside new safeguards for screen sharing, call forwarding and bank-related calls.
The company said the tools will use on-device Gemini Nano models to analyze potential scams. Some features will also rely on Private AI Compute, Google's cloud-based processing system, which it says protects the privacy of information being analyzed.
The new Enhanced Protection mode in Google Messages will be available as an opt-in feature. It uses Gemini models to assess messages and identify signs of fraud by understanding their content and intent.
When the system detects a potential scam, it will display a warning and offer users the option to continue the conversation or select 'Report & block'. Google said the feature is designed to respond quickly to increasingly sophisticated scam techniques.
The protection will also extend to links from websites that have not yet been identified as malicious. Google Messages already warns users about known phishing links, while the new system will use real-time web signals to assess unfamiliar destinations before users open them.
Google is also redesigning warnings to make potential threats more visible. The company plans to extend on-device scam protection beyond Messages through partnerships with Android device manufacturers by the end of 2026.
Google is introducing warnings for screen sharing and call forwarding, two methods scammers use to access sensitive information or redirect calls. Chrome and Android WebView will also hide sensitive app information during screen sharing.
Android will prevent applications from silently activating call forwarding. Users who enter special MMI codes into the dialer will receive a warning before the setting takes effect.
Google is also working with banks to counter caller ID spoofing. Android will check incoming calls against participating banks in real time to help determine whether a call genuinely comes from the institution it claims to represent. The company said it is working with additional banks to expand this protection across more countries.
Also Read: Fake Apple Support Scams are Rising via Phishing Emails, Experts Warn