Google is rolling out a new layer of protection for Android users, specifically teaching Circle to Search and Google Lens how to spot scam messages right on your screen.
Since our messaging apps are constantly getting hammered with sophisticated fraud – from those fake “delivery fee” demands to weird promises of free money – Google is stepping in to help you spot the fakes at a glance.
It works using the gesture you probably already use: just long-press the home button or navigation bar, circle the suspicious text, and Google generates an AI Overview. This isn’t just a generic warning; it explains why the message looks dangerous, analyzing context from the web to highlight red flags and suggesting your next move.
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If you don’t use gestures, the same tech works in Google Lens. You can just take a screenshot of the text, open it in the Lens app, and get the same instant analysis. The best part? This is rolling out globally starting this week. You don’t need to wait for a major system update like Android 16; it’s just arriving. However, Google notes that the warning will only pop up when the system is confident it has found a potential scam.
Why This Is Important & Why You Should Care
Let’s be real: scam texts are getting frighteningly good. Bad actors are now using AI to write perfect copy, mimicking official language, and using psychological pressure to make you react instantly. It is exhausting to stay on guard constantly, and mistakes can be expensive.
This feature is designed to give you a “pause” button. Instead of panicking because a text says your bank account is frozen, you get a calm, AI-backed second opinion. By telling you things like “This matches known phishing patterns” or “This message is using urgency to manipulate you,” the tool demystifies the threat in real time.
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It is also privacy-friendly – it happens on your device without you needing to send the message to a human reviewer. Paired with other recent Android safety tools, like the ability to instantly bail on spammy group chats, Google is trying to build a much safer ecosystem for your daily communications.
What’s Happens Next
Google says this system is only going to get smarter as it learns from new scam trends. Over time, Circle to Search could become a universal warning light for all kinds of digital threats – not just texts, but sketchy websites, QR codes, or fake payment requests.
As scammers use AI to get faster and smarter, Google is betting on AI-powered defenses to keep up. For you, that means less second-guessing and a safer inbox, built right into the tools you are already using.
