Google has introduced a new security feature on Android capable of detecting and flagging suspected impersonation calls in real time, as the technology giant intensifies efforts to combat the rising threat of artificial intelligence-powered voice cloning scams that contributed to more than $400 billion in global losses last year.

The new feature, known as fake call detection, was announced through Google’s official blog and is being rolled out globally this month to devices running Android 12 and later versions, beginning with Pixel smartphones. According to the company, the feature is enabled by default and does not require users to manually switch it on.

The latest development comes amid a significant rise in impersonation fraud across the world, with cybercriminals increasingly leveraging advanced technology to deceive victims.

According to INTERPOL’s March 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment, impersonation fraud remains one of the major causes of more than $400 billion in worldwide financial losses. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission reported losses of $2.95 billion from impersonation scams in 2024 alone.

For Nigerian smartphone users, who have become frequent targets of voice cloning schemes and caller ID spoofing attacks, the new security tool offers a built-in layer of protection directly integrated into their devices.

Google explained that the technology functions as a digital handshake between two devices. When a person receives a call from a contact and both users are using the Phone by Google application, the caller’s device automatically transmits a silent encrypted confirmation signal to prove that the call genuinely originates from that device.

Where fraudsters spoof a contact’s phone number, the encrypted confirmation signal will not be present. In such situations, the recipient’s device instantly contacts the genuine owner of the number for verification. If the legitimate contact confirms that no call is being made from their device, the recipient receives an immediate warning on the screen advising them to end the call.

The verification process is powered by end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology, ensuring that the information exchanged remains private and inaccessible to anyone outside the two devices involved in the communication.

Google stated that the feature is built on RCS, which is an open industry standard. The company said this approach was intentional to allow other smartphone manufacturers and application developers to implement similar protections across the wider mobile ecosystem.

“Security shouldn’t be limited to just one type of phone or app. We want to raise the bar across the industry to help protect as many people as possible,” the company said.

Cybercriminals have increasingly combined multiple techniques to carry out impersonation scams. Typically, scammers first spoof a trusted contact’s phone number using internet-based calling software. They then deploy AI-powered deepfake audio tools to imitate the voice of a family member, employer or public official, creating highly convincing fraudulent calls that experts warn many people can no longer distinguish from genuine voices.

Google said the fake call detection system is specifically designed to identify and counter both tactics simultaneously, removing the responsibility of spotting such scams from users.

Phone by Google already serves as the default calling application on most Android devices around the world. Users whose phones operate with a different default calling application can download Phone by Google from the Google Play Store and set it as their primary phone app in order to benefit from the protection.

The company noted that users who prefer manual control can disable the feature at any time through the settings menu within the Phone by Google application.

Fake call detection is the latest addition to a growing range of anti-scam technologies being developed by Google. The company already deploys AI-powered scam detection in Google Messages, where potentially harmful text messages are automatically identified and flagged. It also provides scam call detection capabilities for Pixel and Samsung users through the Phone by Google application.

In May 2024, Nairametrics reported that Google introduced a new suite of artificial intelligence-powered features for Android devices, including a real-time scam detection tool driven by its Gemini Nano AI model.

The technology company unveiled the upgrades during its annual developer conference, where it presented several AI-focused innovations designed to improve user safety while enhancing the overall Android experience.

Google explained that Gemini Nano would allow Android smartphones to detect potential scam calls in real time, warning users about suspicious activities and helping them avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes before any financial loss occurs.