With AI-based voice cloning and call spoofing scams on the rise, Google has introduced a new security feature to protect smartphone users. Called "Fake Call Detection," this new system is coming to Android phones. Its main function is to check whether a call is trustworthy before you answer it and warn you if it's not.

According to Google's announcement, this feature will be available on devices running Android 12 or later. It's being rolled out to users worldwide in phases. This system will work by default in the Phone by Google app.

This new feature works through a kind of digital 'handshake'.

When a call comes in, the caller's and receiver's phones exchange a verification signal. This serves as a security check to confirm whether the call is genuine. If the system detects a suspicious call, it will send a verification message to the caller's phone.

If it receives a response like "I'm not calling right now," a warning will pop up on the receiver's screen, advising the user to end the call immediately. Google claims this will help prevent scams where fraudsters use fake identities.

The company also said that the system uses Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology, which ensures enhanced security and privacy. All data is protected by end-to-end encryption.

Right now, one of the biggest scams is "voice cloning," a technology that perfectly mimics people's voices. Scammers also use "number spoofing" to make it appear as if the call is coming from a trusted relative's phone number. This makes it very difficult for users to identify who is actually calling. Google said that reports show that such scams cause losses worth hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide. The company also said that fake identity scams, where fraudsters pretend to be bank officials or government agencies, cause significant financial losses.

However, for this feature to work, both the caller and the callee must be using a supported system and app. Therefore, it won't provide complete protection in every situation. Still, it's considered a major change in mobile security. Google's new system has a simple goal: to keep users safe by verifying the true source of a call, rather than relying solely on voice. It's hoped this will significantly reduce scams where criminals impersonate family members or friends.

PC: India TV News