Google Phone app adds warnings for contact impersonation scam calls

In short: Google is adding a new Phone app feature that warns you if a call seems to be pretending to come from one of your contacts.

What happened

Google says it is rolling out a feature in the Phone by Google app that flags suspicious calls that appear to use the same number as someone in your contacts list. If the app thinks the call is fake, it will show a message like, “Someone may be pretending to call from your contact’s number,” and it will offer a button to end the call.

This is aimed at “AI impersonation” scams. These are scams where someone copies, or “clones,” a person’s voice using AI (software that can imitate how someone talks) and then calls you while pretending to be a friend, family member, or even an authority figure.

Google says the feature will be turned on by default for people using Android 12 or later, starting with Pixel phones. It only works when both you and the person you trust are using Phone by Google. The trusted person’s phone can send a silent confirmation that the call is real (like a quick secret handshake between devices). If a scammer fakes the number, that confirmation is missing, and the app can warn you.

Google also says this work is built on RCS with end-to-end encryption (a locked tunnel for messages that only the sender and receiver can open), so other apps may be able to use the idea later.

Why it matters

Phone scams are getting harder to spot because scammers can make a call look and sound familiar. A clear warning on your screen can help you hang up faster, before you share money or personal information.

Source: The Verge AI