Google is planning a significant expansion of its on-device Scam Detection service for Pixel phones, and that could mean much more consistent protections from calls and texts to third‐party chat apps. An APK teardown from the latest Android System Intelligence build which relates that it will support warning users of scams directly in their notificaton bar (accross popular messangers), possibly WhatsApp, Signal, Instagram and X; a big step for messaging security.
What we know about the new detection so far
Strings in Android System Intelligence v B.13:
Strings in Android System Intelligence version b.13:
playstore. pixel10. 801661517 citation notices which have the possibility to mark things “Likely scam,” warn of “suspicious activity” and indicate content that “may contain harmful” elements. There are baked‑in user controls too: a “Not a scam” button to make up for when you set off a false alarm, and a warning that “Scam Detection paused for this chat,” potentially hinting at per‑conversation controls rather than all-encompassing app‑level toggles.
Crucially, the feature appears to be working based on a notification layer rather than from within chat apps. That method keeps the action within Android’s system UI, eliminating the requirement for deep app integrations. If Google’s recent focus on offline AI is anything to go by, this could be driven by Gemini Nano—the same light model behind the call and SMS scam identification feature in Pixels—so the analysis happens on‑device and in private.
Device settings also seem to be there: the teardown hints at a preference path under Settings > Security & Privacy > More Security & Privacy > Scam Detection. One previewed snippet of text shows a daily cap on how often warnings are handed out, in an effort to prevent fatigue — a helpful failsafe if you’re in high-traffic group chats or a promotional flood zone.
What apps might get support
Namechecks in configuration files inform to names of several popular platforms – WhatsApp and Signal, Instagram and X among them – but this doesn’t necessarily confirm launch‑day support. There are also legacy entries ( Hangouts for example) and internal test apps, further cementing that the list is a target set in progress, not available as a final roster. Detection occurs in the notifications, so many apps can take advantage of this without any development changes — but the quality of detection will depend on how much message content is presented in notifications and user privacy settings.
End‑to‑end encryption is still there; this system isn’t breaking chats. Instead, it’ll be all about classifying what appears in notification previews with the help of on‑device models and heuristics — sort a’ la how Pixel already dynamically highlights suspected spam calls.
Why this matters now
More and more, fraudsters prefer private messaging as a means to appeal for impersonation and rush you along. Fake “Hi Mom” friend-in-need ploys, spurious investment pitches and counterfeit delivery notices regularly begin in DMs. U.S. consumers have experienced surging fraud losses in recent years, with the Federal Trade Commission recording about $10 billion in 2023 and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center receiving reports of approximately $12.5 billion in cybercrime losses that year. Regulators in several countries including the UK communications watchdog have also previously warned about suspicious messages being sent to people’s mobiles or smartphones.
A system‑level, bottoms-up layer that surfaces risky outreach before you even open a chat could blunt the damage from fast‑moving scams — particularly for users in different at-risk categories. You have controls on a per‑chat basis and an “Not a scam” option that provides for trust, so Pixel owners can train the system and tune sensitivity over time.
Rollout expectations and caveats
The build IDs indicate Pixel 10-generation stew, and the feature is also expected to arrive on the Pixel 9 line eventually but there are no timelines. It’s worth noting that, as with any APK teardown, features can be removed or tweaked at any point until they arrive on the stable channel. If it does come to fruition, don’t look for it as something that gets released as an app but rather through updates to Android System Intelligence and system components.
Once live, Pixel owners should see clear, succinct alerts in chat notifications (such as “Likely scam”) and brief safety recommendations along with options to temporarily stop detection for specific conversations. It’s a practical extension of Google’s arsenal of anti‑fraud tools — and an indication that the front lines for blocking scams are shifting to where many attacks first surface: your message notifications.