Google is enhancing its Phone app with a new feature designed to combat the rising threat of AI impersonation scams. This update will alert users when they receive calls that appear to be from their contacts but may actually be fraudulent. The app will flag these calls as suspicious, allowing users to hang up before falling victim to potential scams.
This initiative is part of Google’s broader June Android update, which also introduces several other enhancements. Among these are expanded support for Apple AirDrop across various devices, including the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup. Additionally, Google is making its Personal Safety app accessible to children under 13, rolling out AI-powered clothing try-on features in Photos, and improving the search functionality for finding items in outfits.
In a recent announcement, Google highlighted the increasing prevalence of impersonation scams, citing FBI data that revealed Americans lost over 3 million to such schemes in 2025. Scammers often spoof a contact’s phone number and utilize AI technology to mimic their voice, making it difficult for recipients to discern the authenticity of the call. To mitigate this risk, the Phone app will display a notification stating, “Someone may be pretending to call from your contact’s number,” along with an option to terminate the call.
This protective feature will be automatically enabled for users operating on Android 12 and later versions, starting with Pixel devices. It relies on a system where both the user and their trusted contact must utilize the Phone by Google app. When a legitimate call is made, the contact’s device sends a “silent confirmation signal” to verify the authenticity of the call. If a scammer attempts to spoof the number, this confirmation signal will be absent, triggering the app’s alert.
Google has developed this feature using end-to-end encrypted rich communication services (RCS) technology, paving the way for other applications to adopt similar protective measures. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, such innovations are crucial in safeguarding users from increasingly sophisticated scams.
