Google has a solution for those ‘unpaid toll’ text scams
Google is enhancing its scam text detection technology in Google Messages to combat the rise of text scams, particularly those involving fake unpaid toll alerts. This update will analyze texts for red flags like poor grammar, urgent language, and suspicious links, and will label potential scams, allowing users to report or block them. The FBI received approximately 60,000 complaints related to toll scams last year, and the Federal Trade Commission reported consumer losses of $470 million to text scams in 2024. Scammers have become more sophisticated, often rotating URLs and borrowing language from legitimate sources to appear credible. Google’s detection algorithm operates on-device, providing security without needing to send text data to servers, and will also tackle scams related to crypto, technical support, and gift cards.
Context:
Google is enhancing its scam text detection technology in Google Messages to combat the rise of text scams, particularly those involving fake unpaid toll alerts. This update will analyze texts for red flags like poor grammar, urgent language, and suspicious links, and will label potential scams, allowing users to report or block them. The FBI received approximately 60,000 complaints related to toll scams last year, and the Federal Trade Commission reported consumer losses of $470 million to text scams in 2024. Scammers have become more sophisticated, often rotating URLs and borrowing language from legitimate sources to appear credible. Google’s detection algorithm operates on-device, providing security without needing to send text data to servers, and will also tackle scams related to crypto, technical support, and gift cards.
Dive Deeper:
Google is updating its scam detection technology in Google Messages to identify text scams, such as those claiming unpaid tolls, by analyzing messages for signs of phishing, including poor grammar and urgent language.
The update will start rolling out alongside other Android updates and will label suspicious messages as 'likely scam,' offering users the option to report or block them.
In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission reported consumer losses of $470 million to text scams, highlighting the need for improved detection technology as scammers employ more sophisticated tactics.
The FBI received about 60,000 complaints related to toll scams in a single year, prompting Google's efforts to enhance scam detection in its messaging app.
Google's detection algorithm processes messages on the device, meaning it doesn't need to send text information to servers, thereby enhancing user privacy while detecting potential scams.
Scammers often use tactics such as rotating URLs and mimicking language from legitimate sources to make their messages appear credible, thus complicating their detection.
In addition to unpaid toll scams, the update will also help identify fraudulent texts related to cryptocurrency, technical support, and gift cards, aiming to provide comprehensive protection against various scams.