Google’s Phone app will tell you if a scammer is impersonating one of your contacts

Google is launching a new feature for its Phone app that aims to protect you from AI impersonation scams. Now, when you receive a call from a scammer that appears to be coming from the same number as one of your contacts, Phone by Google will flag the call as suspicious so you can hang up. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/google-fake-call-detection-gif.gif?quality=90&strip=all] In a post explaining the update, Google describes impersonation scams as a growing threat, with the FBI reporting that Americans lost over $893 million to scams using AI in 2025. To carry out the attack, scammers spoof one of your contacts’ phone numbers and then use AI-powered tech to make their voice sound like a friend, family member, or authority figure. The Phone by Google app will display a notification if you receive one of these fake calls, saying “Someone may be pretending to call from your contact’s number,” along with the option to end the call. Google is turning on this feature by default for users with Android 12 and later, starting with Pixel phones. This feature only works if you and a trusted contact both use Phone by Google, as a contact’s device will send a “silent confirmation signal” that verifies the call is actually coming from your friend or family member. If a scammer tries to spoof your contact’s number, “that initial confirmation signal will be missing,” according to Google. The company notes that it built this feature atop end-to-end encrypted rich communication services (RCS) technology, allowing other apps to adopt it. Several other features are coming to Android devices along with this update, including the ability for kids under 13 to access Google’s Personal Safety app. Kids will soon be able to display emergency contacts and medical information on their devices’ lockscreens, as well as turn on car crash detection. Google is more widely rolling out support for Apple AirDrop, its AI-powered clothing try-on feature in Photos, and the ability to find items in an outfit with Circle to Search. Google Play Books users can also use a new AI-powered insights feature that can summarize what you’ve read so far in select titles or answer questions about a specific passage.