Galaxy S26 Gets Scam Detection With Gemini AI to Protect You From Scam Calls and Texts

Google's Scam Detection is now on the Galaxy S26, and you don't need the Google Phone app

The feature was previously restricted to Pixel phones and the Google Phone app. Google's recent Pixel phones introduced Scam Detection for phone calls, giving you a heads-up if a call starts to sound shady. This feature is available in Google's Phone app, but it's now coming to the Samsung Galaxy S26 series as well. Google confirmed that Scam Detection is available in the Samsung phone app on the Galaxy S26 phones. This feature uses the Gemini Nano on-device AI model while you're on a call to detect conversation patterns frequently associated with scams. The feature is disabled for your contacts, though. "If a caller, for example, tries to get you to provide payment via gift cards to complete a delivery, Scam Detection will alert you through audio and haptic notifications and display a warning on your phone that the call may be a scam," Google noted in a blog post last year. Google adds that Scam Detection on the Galaxy S26 series is limited to English speakers in the US. So you might have to wait a while if you're hoping for support in your market and desired language. In any event, Scam Detection was previously limited to the Google Phone app, so we're glad to see it's coming to the Samsung phone app. This news also comes roughly a month after we first uncovered evidence of Scam Detection coming to the Galaxy S26 series. There's no word if or when this will come to older Samsung flagship phones, though. It should be possible from a technical perspective, as recent high-end Galaxy phones already run the AI model that underpins Scam Detection. We also hope the feature lands on phones from other OEMs later this year.

Samsung Galaxy S26 steals one of Pixel's smartest safety features

Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of Android around the release of the Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S. After flashing custom ROMs and kernels on his beloved Galaxy S, he started writing about Android for a living. He uses the latest Samsung or Pixel flagship as his daily driver. And yes, he carries an iPhone as a secondary device. Rajesh has been writing for Android Police since 2021, covering news, how-tos, and features. Based in India, he has previously written for Neowin, AndroidBeat, Times of India, iPhoneHacks, MySmartPrice, and MakeUseOf. When not working, you will find him mindlessly scrolling through X, playing with new AI models, or going on long road trips. You can reach out to him on Twitter or drop a mail at [email protected]. Pixel phones come with a handy Scam Detection feature that uses on-device AI to analyze calls and messages and spot signs of fraud. After a three-month beta, the feature rolled out to Pixels in March 2025. Almost a year later, the feature is shedding its Pixel-exclusivity and coming to Samsung's newest flagship: the Galaxy S26. Scam Detection on the Galaxy S26 will work much like it does on the Pixel. It will rely on on-device Gemini AI to analyze calls and messages in real time and flag potentially fraudulent activity. For privacy reasons, your conversations remain on-device, with no data being uploaded to the cloud. If it detects something suspicious, the phone will alert you immediately with a warning sound and vibration, making sure you don't miss the notification even if you're distracted. Scam Detection is turned off by default. It also only works for phone calls and messages from unknown numbers, and not for contacts in your phonebook. While the feature is available in the US, Australia, India, the UK, and a few other countries on the Pixel, Samsung will initially roll it out on the Galaxy S26 only in the US. At launch, it will also support English only, with additional languages likely to follow later. Scam Detection will work directly with the stock Phone app on the Galaxy S26. Google plans to bring this feature to more devices and users. Scam Detection in Google Messages gets a Gemini boost Google is also improving Scam Detection's capabilities in Google Messages with a little help from Gemini. It can now "better detect the subtle conversational patterns used in job offer scams or sophisticated romance baiting scams." The latter is particularly noteworthy as such scams potentially play out over days. Subscribe for scam-detection and device security updates Want deeper coverage? Subscribe to our newsletter for clear, expert reporting on scam-detection advancements, on-device AI privacy, multilingual rollouts, and broader device-security trends -- all focused on these topics. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. The enhanced Scam Detection feature in Google Messages will launch in the US, Canada, and the UK. It is rolling out first to the Pixel 10 and will also be available on the Galaxy S26. Additionally, Google is expanding the standard Scam Detection experience in Google Messages to more than 20 countries. The feature will support multiple languages, including Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, making it accessible to a much wider audience.

Samsung Galaxy S26 just got a new tool to protect you from scam calls and texts -- here's how it works

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series has finally landed, with Galaxy Unpacked revealing just about everything there is to know about the phone. Among the many features that Samsung has included on the three phones is something that originally debuted on Pixel phones last year: Scam Detection. For those who don't know, this is a Gemini AI feature that can analyze calls and text messages in real time. If Gemini detects anything it deems fraudulent, you get alerted with a vibration and a warning chime. That way, you shouldn't miss the notification pointing out that someone could be potentially trying to scam you. Other things to note are that Scam Detection only applies to unknown numbers, rather than anyone already in your contact list. It's also not switched on by default, which means you have to go out of your way to make sure you're better protected. According to Samsung, the feature will work in much the same way on Galaxy S26 as it does on Pixel phones. Which also includes keeping all analyzed data on your device, with nothing uploaded to the cloud in any way. However, Samsung will limit the rollout to the U.S. for the time being, and that means it'll only be available in English. Scam Detection is getting some upgrades too Google's taken this opportunity to improve what Scam Detection can do, which is probably a good thing since Pixels first got this feature a year ago. Apparently, Gemini will be able to "better detect the subtle conversational patterns used in job offer scams or sophisticated romance baiting scams." Considering these kinds of scams rarely involve a single one-off attempt, and can continue over several days or weeks, extra protection is particularly important. Anyone who knows someone who has fallen for these types of scams will know that sometimes protecting them is easier said than done. So, making sure they have the tools to help protect them from scams, even if it seems like they don't want to be protected, is an important step to help them stay safe. And every little bit helps. If you want to know more about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, be sure to check out our Samsung Galaxy S26 hands-on and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on. Or check out our Galaxy Unpacked live blog for a rundown of all the news and announcements from the show. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

Google Adds One of the Best Pixel Calling Features to the Galaxy S26

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Back in 2024, Google first introduced Scam Detection for calls on Pixel devices. This feature would recognize speech patterns from callers that were commonly associated with fraud and then alert you, in real-time, with a prompt to end the call (or continue if not actually a scam). That feature is now coming to Samsung devices, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. In a brief announcement, Google says it is expanding Scam Detection for calls to the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. They did mention that this is an expansion to "more manufacturers," so there is always a chance we see it on other Android devices too. However, for now, this is only on Pixel and the Galaxy S26. For Galaxy S26 future owners, you can see in the image below how this may look when a call identifies a potential scammer. In a bit of extra news, Google says it has figured out a way to enhance how Google Messages identifies fraudulent texts by using Gemini on-device models. The example they provide is a better detection of conversational patterns in job offer scams or sophisticated romance baiting scams. These scams typically take longer to work, as they build relationships and trust with people before pulling off the scam. Google thinks its AI can figure out these tactics and will alert you in a way that you can see at the top of this post. This new scam detection in Google Messages is rolling out first to the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 series.