Google develops feature to detect bank scam calls
Google is testing a simple but effective way to block increasingly sophisticated banking scam calls, helping users avoid falling prey to online scams.
As online banking scams become increasingly sophisticated, Google is quietly developing a new defense tool on Android to help users identify and avoid phone-based identity theft.
According to analysis from the latest beta version of the Google Play Services app (v25.18.31), a feature called BankScamCallDetectionService is being tested with the specific goal of detecting scam calls involving screen sharing when using banking apps.
How the scam works
The type of scam Google is aiming to prevent often starts with a call from someone pretending to be a bank employee or tech support.
These scammers will gain the victim's trust by creating a sense of urgency, such as warnings about suspicious transactions or the risk of losing money in an account.
They then ask the victim to install screen-sharing software like TeamViewer or AnyDesk to “fix the problem.” Once the victim complies, the scammer can directly observe the activity on the screen, trick them into logging into their banking app, and from there, steal money easily without the need for complex attack techniques.
Google researches solutionsdetect anomalies in real time
According to the code analyzed in the new update, the fraud detection feature will be automatically activated when the user receives a call from an unknown number, i.e. a number not in the contact list, and turns on screen sharing and opens the banking app while the call is in progress.
When a call meets all of these elements, the system will display a warning that the user may be the target of a scam, thereby helping the user to be vigilant.
Unlike the Scam Call Detection feature already available on Pixel phones, which relies on artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze call content, the new method does not require recording or eavesdropping.
Combining data from three factors (calls from unknown numbers, screen sharing, active banking apps) is considered powerful enough to provide instant warnings, while still ensuring user privacy.
With hundreds of different banking apps operating globally, Google appears to maintain a separate list of monitored apps called BankScamWarningFeature__monitored_banking_app_packages.
This list may be continuously updated to ensure support for the widest possible range, from major banks to local financial applications.
This new feature will be available to all devices that have Google Play Services integrated.
The good news for all Android users is that this feature will not be limited to devices running Android 16 or the Pixel line. Because it is integrated into an important system component that is common on most Android devices (Google Play Services).
The banking scam call detection feature will have the opportunity to reach hundreds of millions of Android users worldwide, regardless of the device they use.
While still in the testing phase, this could be an important step forward in efforts to protect users from sophisticated scams, especially as users increasingly conduct financial transactions on mobile devices.
If Google were to widely roll out this feature, it would be a valuable, simple, lightweight, yet extremely effective layer of defense to keep users' digital wallets safe.
