Android gets caller identification against scam calls

Google is integrating a new mechanism into Android to prevent fraudulent calls with fake contacts. This aims to curb scam attempts using fake caller IDs (the transmitted caller number).

Google is now introducing this “fake call detection” in a blog post. Google explains the scenario as follows: The transmitted phone number of a call matches that of a contact, for example, one's own mother. The voice that sounds after answering also sounds real – yet the call comes from scammers who imitate the voice using AI and, for example, ask for money due to an emergency situation. If callers and recipients use Google smartphones, the phone should now be able to warn against such fake identities. Google intends to activate the function by default. The mechanism is based on the “Verified Financial Calls” function, introduced in May, which protects against scam attempts with fake contacts from financial institutions.

Simple Mechanism with Great Impact

Google now also explains how the mechanism works. The authors of the post describe it as a kind of digital handshake between the devices. If a known contact calls and both parties are using Google smartphones, the devices send a real-time confirmation signal in the background. This confirms that the call is legitimate and actually originates from the contact's device. This digital handshake is based on end-to-end encrypted RCS messages.

If scammers now establish a call with a fake number, this initial confirmation is missing. The recipient's device notices this and sends a ping to the actual contact's device to be sure. If the device replies, “I am not making a call right now,” the recipient's device displays a warning with the advice to hang up immediately. This is intended to protect potential victims from scam calls with real-time deepfake imitation. The function can also be switched off in the telephony configuration settings.

With this, the mechanism automatically implements what is often cited as a security tip against scam calls: if unsure whether a call is genuine, those affected should hang up and contact the source through known channels.

Google wants to make the function globally available now and bring it to devices with Android 12 and newer. The Pixel devices from Google will be the first. Google has not yet provided a timeline for availability on other Android devices. By building on open standards like RCS (Rich Communication Services), other apps besides Google's Phone app and other device manufacturers should also be able to adopt the technology.

Google has already implemented further security features in Android. At the end of 2024, the developers – also initially limited to Pixel phones – integrated an AI-based fraud detection that analyzes the conversation and checks for typical characteristics of scam attempts. A notification on the phone then indicates in such cases that it is likely a scam attempt.

(dmk)