Google Is Using On-Device AI to Spot Scam Texts and Investment Fraud
1 min read
Summary
Google has expanded AI flagging features for its Google Messages app, naming the feature Scam Detection, with the capability to alert consumers about possible scams involving cryptocurrency, financial fraud, gift cards and prizes, and technical support, among others.
Scam Detection runs locally on users’ devices and can detect roughly 2 billion suspicious messages every month.
Reports of online criminal activity have increased in recent years with $16.6bn lost in the US alone last year; Google’s new feature is designed to combat rising scam numbers, in particular, those that are “smishing”, orSMS-based phishing attacks.
The search engine giant is not the only company using AI to combat scammers and it is hoping to extend its offering beyond its Google Messages app in future.
It is also testing scam detection for phone calls but is yet to roll this out widely.
