In a bid to combat rising scam text messages, Google has announced an update to its scam detection technology in the Google Messages app, aiming to help users avoid falling victim to fraudulent toll-related messages and other common hoaxes. This update comes as part of a larger effort to tackle growing issues in mobile messaging scams, which have been reported to be increasing dramatically.
Rising Toll Scams and Google’s New Measures
The new scam detection feature is designed to warn Android users when they receive potentially fraudulent messages, particularly those involving fake toll charges. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cited toll-related text scams as among the most common types of fraud. According to McAfee, fake unpaid toll text messages quadrupled in early 2024, and consumers lost approximately $470 million to text scams last year.
Starting Tuesday, the updated scam detection system will be rolled out within Google Messages, which is the default messaging app on most Android devices. The system will analyze incoming messages for signs of common red flags, such as poor grammar, urgent language, suspicious links, or imitations of official logos.
How Google’s Scam Detection Works
The detection system works by evaluating the content of the messages to identify potential scams, such as fake job offers, bogus package theft alerts, and phishing attempts. In particular, Google’s technology will flag messages that appear to be from legitimate toll agencies, but ask users to make payments or provide sensitive personal information.
In a statement, Google’s Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem, mentioned that fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, with tactics such as hiding or rotating URLs to evade detection. Scammers also adopt the language of legitimate agencies, making the messages appear more credible. Samat said, “These texts look deceptively simple, but actually there’s a whole bunch in them that is complicated.”
What Happens When You Receive a Scam Text
When Google Messages detects a potential scam, users will receive an alert that labels the message as a “likely scam.” Users can then choose to report and block the number or tell Google that the message is not a scam. The goal is to give users more control over their digital security without compromising their privacy, as the scam detection system works entirely on-device, meaning it doesn’t require sending text message data to Google’s servers.
Expanding the Scope of Scam Detection
Alongside unpaid toll scams, the update extends Google’s detection capabilities to other types of fraud, including scams related to cryptocurrency, technical support, and gift cards. This is part of Google’s broader effort to improve mobile security and protect users from various online threats.
Google’s Role in Tackling Scams
Google’s initiative is just one of many efforts to tackle scams in digital communication. Security companies like McAfee and Bitdefender have also introduced tools for identifying malicious links and analyzing suspicious texts. However, Google’s integration of scam detection into the default messaging app used by millions of Android users gives it a unique advantage in helping users quickly recognize and avoid scams.
Additional Security Features from Google
Beyond the scam text detection, Google has been making strides in other areas of mobile security. The company recently introduced a tool in its Chrome browser for identifying scam websites and is also piloting a feature that warns users when they are sharing their phone’s screen with an unknown contact while using a banking app.
As scammers continue to evolve their tactics, Google’s new technology aims to provide users with stronger protection against these increasingly sophisticated threats.
