Google has announced a significant expansion of its scam call detection capabilities for Android devices, aimed at combating the rising tide of deepfake voice impersonation fraud. The new feature, which builds on an earlier system for verified financial calls, will soon be available on all phones running Android 12 or higher. It works by cross-referencing incoming calls with a verification signal sent through Google Messages, helping users identify spoofed numbers and AI-generated voice clones.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, impersonation scams accounted for nearly $3 billion in losses during 2024 alone. The rapid improvement of AI voice cloning tools has made these schemes increasingly difficult to detect, as modern voice models can mimic not only the tone and cadence but also the subtle inflections of a person you speak with daily. Criminals often spoof a contact&8217;s phone number to make the call appear legitimate, then use a synthesized voice to beg for urgent financial assistance.

How the new scam detection works

When a call comes in that appears to be from a known contact, the Google Phone dialer app checks for a confirmation signal that is typically sent during legitimate calls. Spoofed relay calls lack this signal. If the signal is absent, the system automatically uses Google Messages to send an authenticated RCS (Rich Communication Services) ping to the supposed caller&8217;s phone. If that phone reports it is not currently placing a call, a pop-up alert appears on your screen warning that the caller may not be who they claim to be.

The verification process relies on all parties having three specific Google apps installed: Phone by Google, Google Contacts, and Google Messages. While Google claims Phone by Google is the most widely used dialer, many Android OEMs like Samsung and OnePlus ship their own dialers. However, Samsung has now fully switched over to Google Messages, and Motorola and Pixel phones come with these apps preloaded. For the feature to work on both ends, the person you are receiving a call from must also have the same set of Google apps installed. If they use the Samsung dialer or a third-party contacts app, the verification will not function.

This is not Google&8217;s first anti-scam initiative. Earlier iterations on Pixel phones used on-device AI to detect suspicious caller behavior and flag likely scam calls. The Google Messages app also includes real-time scam identification for text messages. With this new update, Google is bridging the gap between voice calls and SMS-based verification, closing a loophole that scammers have increasingly exploited.

AI fashion tools and Circle to Search expansion

In addition to security features, the latest Android update brings AI-powered fashion tools to more devices. The &8220;Find the Look&8221; feature within Circle to Search, previously limited to Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 phones, is now expanding to all devices running Android 14 and above. When you circle an image on your screen, a new button appears that analyzes the entire outfit, identifying each piece of clothing. This is particularly useful for shopping or finding style inspiration from photos.

Google Photos is also getting an AI-assisted fashion engine that catalogues the clothing you wear in photos, creating a virtual wardrobe you can browse and organize. You can even generate AI images of yourself wearing those outfits. While these tools push the boundaries of personal style management, Google advises users to check how clothes look in real life before committing to purchases.

AirDrop expansion to more Android phones

Google&8217;s support for Apple&8217;s AirDrop protocol, initially limited to recent Pixel and Samsung flagship models, is now rolling out to a wider range of devices. The following phones are gaining AirDrop compatibility: Samsung Galaxy S25 series, S25 Edge, Galaxy Z Flip7, Z Fold7, Galaxy Z TriFold, Galaxy S24 series, Z Flip6, Z Fold6; OnePlus 15; Xiaomi 17T Pro; Vivo X300 and X300 Pro; and HONOR Magic V6. iPhone users need to set their device to accept AirDrop requests from &8220;anyone for 10 minutes&8221; for Android transfers to work.

The broader rollout of AirDrop on Android marks a step toward more seamless cross-platform file sharing, though contact-based sharing remains unsupported when sending from Android devices. This limitation means users must still rely on the temporary &8220;anyone&8221; setting, but the expansion of supported hardware will encourage more widespread adoption.

As AI-driven financial scams become more sophisticated, regulators in some countries have advised Android users to avoid using their phones for important financial transactions. By introducing this multi-layered verification system, Google aims to restore trust in voice calls and prevent billions in potential fraud losses. The feature will start rolling out to all Android 12+ devices in the coming weeks, with additional refinements expected in Android 17 later this month.

Source:Ars Technica News