Google Deploys AI Deepfake Call Detection on Android to Combat Impersonation Scams

Google is rolling out an AI-powered fake call detection feature to Android 12 devices globally this month, beginning with Pixel, in response to a surge in scams using deepfake voice technology to impersonate trusted contacts such as family members or employers.

The feature works as a silent digital verification system built on Rich Communication Services (RCS). When a call comes in from a known contact also using Phone by Google, the two devices exchange an automatic confirmation signal. If that signal is absent — indicating a potential impersonation — the system pings the contact’s real device to verify. If their device confirms it is not making a call, the user receives an immediate on-screen warning to hang up.

Google said the feature is enabled by default and operates invisibly in the background, requiring no user action. By building it on RCS, the company said it intends for other developers and carriers to adopt the same verification standard, broadening protection across the wider Android ecosystem.