Google Introduces New Safety Feature for Android Users
New Delhi, Jun 3, 2026 — Google is launching a new safety feature aimed at protecting Android users from a rising wave of fraud: AI-generated impersonation scams.
This new tool, named Fake Call Detection, helps identify suspicious calls where scammers may use artificial intelligence to mimic the voices of acquaintances. According to Google, this is the first feature of its kind in the mobile industry, designed to tackle increasingly clever fraud methods.
Scammers often use AI to create voices that sound exactly like those of friends or family to manipulate victims into believing there’s an emergency or a financial need. In these scams, criminals can spoof phone numbers and calls, making the situation even trickier.
How It Works
The Fake Call Detection feature works automatically when both the caller and recipient are using the Phone by Google app. When a call is made, the caller’s device sends a secure verification signal to the recipient’s phone through safe, encrypted communication.
Google describes the verification process as a “digital handshake.” If a caller claims to be someone in your contacts but the verification signal is absent, the Android system checks with the actual contact’s device. If that device indicates no call is being made, the recipient will see a warning alerting them that they may be receiving a fraudulent call, advising them to hang up immediately.
The feature is designed to maintain privacy and is switched on by default, although users can deactivate it in the app settings if they choose to.
Why Now?
The introduction of this feature comes amid growing concerns about fraud fueled by AI technology. A recent INTERPOL report highlighted impersonation fraud as a significant contributor to over $400 billion in financial losses globally. In the U.S. alone, impersonation scams accounted for nearly $3 billion in losses in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Traditional caller ID systems are struggling to keep up as scammers become better equipped with advanced spoofing tools and realistic voice-cloning technology.
Starting this month, Google will roll out Fake Call Detection to Android 12 and newer devices, beginning with Pixel phones. If you have a compatible Android device, you can download the Phone by Google app from the Play Store and set it as your default calling app to access this new feature.
This rollout is part of Google’s ongoing push to enhance scam protection on Android, alongside existing tools like AI-driven scam detection in Google Messages and verified business communications through RCS.
