Google is taking a significant step to combat the rising tide of deepfake phone scams. The company announced a new scam call detection feature for Android devices running version 12 and above. This feature leverages three core Google apps—Phone by Google, Contacts, and Google Messages—to verify whether an incoming call from a known contact is genuine or a spoofed impersonation attempt.

According to Google, impersonation fraud is one of the most common financial scams. The Federal Trade Commission tracked nearly $3 billion in losses from such scams in 2024 alone. The rapid improvement of AI voice cloning tools has made it alarmingly easy for scammers to mimic someone's voice, even using samples from public videos or social media. Victims often receive calls that appear to come from a family member or colleague in urgent need of money, with the voice sounding perfectly authentic.

How the verification works

When a call arrives, the Google Phone app checks for a confirmation signal that is normally present in legitimate calls. Spoofed relay calls lack this signal. If absent, the system uses Google Messages to send an authenticated RCS (Rich Communication Services) ping to the supposed caller's phone. If that phone reports it is not placing the call, a pop-up alerts the user that the caller might not be who they appear to be.

This method is an extension of the verified financial calls feature Google debuted last month. The key requirement is that both parties must have the three Google apps installed. Users of Samsung’s default dialer or OnePlus contacts app will not benefit from this protection. Additionally, the feature requires the Phone by Google dialer, which is preloaded on Pixel and Motorola devices, and Samsung has now fully adopted Google Messages as its default SMS app.

Key facts about the update

• Eligibility: Android 12 and higher.
• Required apps: Phone by Google, Contacts, and Google Messages.
• Verification method: Authenticated RCS ping to the caller's phone.
• Limitation: Both parties must use the same three apps.
• Rollout: Part of a broader Android ecosystem update expected before Android 17 launches.

The new feature addresses a critical security gap. As AI spoofing becomes more sophisticated, regulators in some countries have advised Android users to avoid using their phones for important financial transactions. This is obviously detrimental to Google’s platform reputation. Over the past year, Google has introduced multiple anti-scam measures: Pixel phones can detect likely scam calls using on-device AI, and Google Messages includes real-time scam identification. The new contact verification adds an extra layer of trust.

More AI: Circle to Search and Google Photos

Beyond scam protection, the update brings AI-powered fashion tools. The “Find the Look” feature in Circle to Search, previously limited to Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26, is expanding to all devices running Android 14 and higher. When you circle any image on your screen, a new button lets you identify every item of clothing in the picture—from jackets to shoes. Google says this uses on-device AI to analyze textures, colors, and patterns.

Google Photos is also getting a fashion-focused AI. The app will soon automatically catalog the clothing you wear in your photos, creating a virtual wardrobe. You can browse and organize outfits, and even generate AI images of yourself wearing those clothes. While fun, Google warns against relying solely on the generated images for style decisions—real-world lighting and fit are still best.

AirDrop expands to more Android phones

In non-AI news, Google is broadening support for Apple’s AirDrop protocol. Initially limited to recent Pixels and Samsung flagships, the feature now works on additional devices. The following models gain AirDrop support with this update:

• Samsung: Galaxy S25 series, S25 Edge, Z Flip7, Z Fold7, Galaxy Z TriFold, Galaxy S24 series, Z Flip6, Z Fold6.
• OnePlus: OnePlus 15.
• Xiaomi: Xiaomi 17T Pro (announced early).
• Vivo: Vivo X300 and X300 Pro.
• HONOR: Magic V6.

Nothing changes on the iPhone side. Sending files from Android still requires the iPhone to accept AirDrop requests from “anyone for 10 minutes.” Contact-based sharing remains unsupported for Android senders, but the growing list of compatible devices makes the cross-platform tool more practical.

These updates reflect Google’s strategy of integrating AI and ecosystem services to address real-world problems like fraud while also enhancing everyday tasks. The scam detection feature, in particular, could significantly reduce the effectiveness of voice deepfake scams if enough users adopt the required Google apps. With Android 17 expected to roll out later this month, the new features are arriving just in time for a wave of AI-powered threats.

Source: Ars Technica News