India is facing a fast-growing wave of digital scams as millions of citizens adopt smartphones for banking, shopping, and essential services. With online payments becoming a daily habit, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting users who are unfamiliar with digital threats.
To help address these challenges, Google has announced a major upgrade to its fraud prevention efforts in India. The company is rolling out advanced on-device scam detection for Pixel 9 smartphones and adding new alerts to protect users from screen-sharing scams.
Digital Fraud on the Rise in India
Financial scams linked to online transactions have been surging. More than half of all banking fraud reported in 2024 involved digital payments, with thousands of cases amounting to significant financial losses. Officials estimate that billions of rupees have already been stolen in the first months of 2025 alone — and many incidents likely go unreported.
As cyber criminals evolve their tactics, India has become one of the most targeted markets due to its massive Android user base and rapid digital adoption.
Google’s On-Device Scam Detection Arrives
Google is now expanding its real-time scam detection feature, powered by Gemini Nano AI. The technology analyzes phone calls directly on the device — without recording audio or sending sensitive data to the cloud — and issues alerts when suspicious behavior is detected.
Key features include:
✔ Works only with unknown callers
✔ Fully private, with no audio stored or transmitted
✔ Audible beep so participants know AI protection is active
This feature launched as a beta in the U.S. earlier this year and is now heading to India. However, it will initially support only English and only Pixel 9 and newer models, limiting its immediate reach in a market largely dominated by lower-cost Android phones.
Screen-Sharing Alerts to Stop Payment Scams
Fraudsters frequently trick victims into screen sharing to steal PINs, OTPs, and other confidential data. To fight this, Google is testing new alerts through financial apps including Navi, Paytm, and Google Pay.
Available on devices running Android 11 and above, these alerts allow users to:
🔹 Automatically stop screen sharing
🔹 End risky calls with one tap
🔹 View warnings in multiple Indian languages (coming soon)
More app partners will be added as the rollout expands.
Google’s Broader Fraud-Prevention Push
These new protections build on Google’s ongoing safety measures in India:
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Play Protect blocks installation attempts from suspicious lending apps requesting dangerous permissions.
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Google Pay issues over a million scam warnings every week.
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DigiKavach, an education campaign, has reached more than 250 million people.
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A collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India helps identify legitimate lending services.
Earlier this year, Google also introduced a Safety Charter, reinforcing its commitment to AI-powered fraud defense for Indian users.
Challenges Still Remain
Despite progress, Google continues to face criticism for scam apps that slip past Play Store security checks. Fake lending and investment apps have remained available long enough to cause harm before being removed.
With India representing one of the world’s largest digital-first consumer bases, securing its ecosystem is a major test — and one Google must continue to strengthen.
