Google has introduced a new AI-powered scam detection feature in Circle to Search and Google Lens, aimed at helping users quickly identify suspicious messages they receive across SMS, chat apps, and social media. According to Google, one of the most common tactics today involves scammers sending fraudulent text messages that demand money or push victims to click on fake links, often impersonating banks, delivery companies, or government agencies.

The new protection works on top of tools many Android and iOS users are already familiar with. On Android devices that support Circle to Search, users can simply long-press the home button or navigation bar and circle any suspicious text on their screen – whether it’s in a messaging app, email, or browser. Google’s systems will then use AI and information from the web to analyse the content and assess whether the message is likely to be a scam, before displaying an easy-to-read overview with guidance and suggested next steps.

The same capability is also available via Google Lens in the Google app on both Android and iOS. Users just take a screenshot of the questionable message, open Lens in the Google app, and select that screenshot. From there, the backend AI does the same risk assessment and serves up a summary explaining what looks suspicious, why it might be unsafe, and how to respond more safely – for example by avoiding links, not sharing personal information, or contacting the organisation via official channels instead.

Google says the feature is designed to complement, not replace, people’s own judgment. It will only appear when the system has “high confidence” in the quality of its analysis, and it does not automatically block messages or make decisions on behalf of the user. Instead, it adds an extra layer of context in moments when people may feel unsure about whether a message is genuine or not.

The scam detection capability is rolling out globally in both Circle to Search and Google Lens, and is part of Google’s broader push to use AI for safety and security in everyday products, especially as online scams become more sophisticated and harder to spot at a glance.

Source: Google