Protect yourself with spam & scam detection on your Pixel phone

Your Pixel phone has built-in spam and scam protection. These features can help block and warn you about suspicious calls and messages.

Learn how your Pixel protects you from suspicious calls

Your Pixel phone's spam and scam detection extends to your phone calls.

Caller ID and spam warnings: This feature identifies potential spam callers and displays warnings about suspected spammers or telemarketers. Learn how to use Caller ID and spam protection.
Scam Detection during calls: On eligible Pixel phones, you can get real-time alerts if a call shows patterns commonly associated with scams. Learn how to use Scam Detection in the Phone app.

Learn about spam & scam protection in Google Messages

The Google Messages app automatically detects and moves suspected spam into a dedicated folder. Learn how Google protects your privacy with spam detection.

To report spam or block a sender in the Google Messages app, learn how to block and report spam in Google Messages.

Learn about Scam Detection for chat messages

Important:

This feature helps detect likely scams by analyzing new message notifications from supported apps. It doesn’t alert you about potential scams while you’re in the app itself.
Scam Detection is currently only available in English.

For an extra layer of security, your Pixel phone can warn you about potential scams when you receive message notifications from many popular apps.

Review Scam Detection for chat messages

Important: If you mark a message as “Not a scam,” Scam Detection is turned off for that conversation for a while.

Your Pixel phone notifies you when you receive suspicious messages.

Check for scam message notifications in the notification panel.
- Possible scam message notifications have a red warning icon and display a “Likely scam” button when expanded.
To check the explanation and other options, tap Likely scam.
- To close the notification, tap OK.
- To get more info, tap More details.
Choose an option.
- To mark the message as a scam, tap Done.
- To mark the message as not a scam, tap Not a scam. You can choose to share the message with Google to improve Scam Detection.

Manage your Scam Detection settings

Important: Scam Detection may not catch every scam. Be careful when you share personal info or tap on links.

Scam Detection for chat messages is on by default. To adjust the settings:

On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app.
Tap Security & privacy More security & privacy Scam Detection.
Turn Message scams on or off.

Learn how Google uses your scam detection data

This feature runs in a secure, isolated environment to identify suspicious patterns. For example, it can detect requests for personal info when your phone receives a message notification from a supported app. Your message content remains private and isn’t sent to Google, unless you choose to share it.

When you receive a Scam Detection alert, you can choose to share the message with Google to improve Scam Detection. Only the selected message content will be shared, without common identifying info.

Use Circle to Search & Google Lens to spot scam messages

You can use Circle to Search or Google Lens to analyze text and images on your screen like text messages for signs of fraud.

Use Circle to Search

If you receive a suspicious message, you can verify it in the app.

To activate Circle to Search, touch and hold the "Home" button or the navigation handle at the bottom of your screen.
Circle the suspicious text.
Review the analysis.
- Our systems will use AI and information from the web to assess whether the message is likely a scam. You’ll see an overview with guidance and insights including suggested next steps.

Use Google Lens

You can also use Google Lens to check for scams.

Take a screenshot of the suspicious message.
Open the Google app.
Tap Google Lens .
Select your screenshot from the gallery.
To view results and safety warnings about the content, tap Search.