Amid the rising number of text message scams, especially those impersonating official notifications, Google is rolling out a significant update to enhance the protection of Android users against cybersecurity threats.

Google enhances security in the Messages app

According to CNN, this new update is part of an integrated scam message detection system within Google Messages, the default messaging app on most Android devices.

The new fraud message detection feature began rolling out on May 13 as part of a series of Android updates ahead of Google’s developer conference.

In addition to this security enhancement, Google also announced software aesthetic changes and the expansion of its Gemini AI assistant integration to smartwatches and Android-powered vehicles.

Rampant toll fee scam messages spread across the United States

Scam messages impersonating toll fee notifications have surged sharply in the United States. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this is among the most common forms of fraud today.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported receiving approximately 60,000 complaints related to this type of scam last year.

In the first two months of this year alone, the volume of fake toll fee messages has nearly quadrupled, according to a report by cybersecurity firm McAfee. The FTC stated that U.S. consumers lost up to $470 million to messaging scams in 2024.

Google’s response to user feedback

“We continuously hear from users that this is a serious issue,” said Sameer Samat, Vice President of Android Ecosystem at Google, in an interview with CNN.

Google’s spam protection system works by analyzing elements within conversations to detect signs of fraud. These indicators may include poor grammar, urgent language, suspicious links, or fake logos – common tactics used by scammers, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Google Messages will warn users about suspected scam messages

However, scammers are upgrading their techniques. According to Mr. Samat, they may hide or alter URLs and use language from legitimate sources to make messages appear more trustworthy. “These messages look very simple and easy to overlook. But in reality, they are crafted very cleverly,” he said.

When the system detects a suspicious message, Google Messages will label it as “potential scam” and display a warning to users. The app also offers options for users to report, block the phone number, or confirm if the message is not fraudulent.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), these messages are often designed to appear as if they come from a legitimate toll agency, including a phone number or link for users to make payments. However, official organizations do not request personal information via text messages.

Warnings from authorities and experts

New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a warning to users of the E-ZPass electronic toll system earlier this year. She emphasized that customers should never provide credit card information or Social Security numbers via text messages or emails. Scammers often request small amounts of money to exploit recipients’ complacency.

Google’s fraud detection algorithm

Google stated that their fraud detection algorithm runs directly on the device, meaning text message data does not need to be sent to the company’s servers for analysis. This approach both ensures user privacy and improves processing speed.

The update goes beyond detecting toll fee scams; it also enables Google Messages to identify other types of fraud such as cryptocurrency scams, fake technical support, and gift card fraud.

Google holds an advantage thanks to its built-in integration within the Android 

Besides Google, other technology companies are also deploying tools to combat scam messages. McAfee has developed a tool that detects malicious links within messages.

Meanwhile, Bitdefender offers a free chatbot that allows users to forward suspicious messages, emails, or links for analysis and evaluation.

However, Google holds an advantage by directly integrating security features into the default messaging app that most Android users already have, eliminating the need to install additional software.

Google takes proactive measures to combat sophisticated scams

This is just one of Google’s recent security initiatives. Previously, the company launched a tool to detect phishing websites within the Chrome browser. Additionally, Google is testing a feature that alerts users when they share their phone screen with an unknown contact while using banking apps—a tactic often exploited by scammers posing as technical support.

“Scammers are truly raising the bar for what they do. So, we feel we must respond accordingly,” Mr. Samat added.

Source: Hoàng Vũ (Tạp chí Một thế giới)