In a continuous effort to combat online scams, Google has just rolled out a new functionality: Circle to Search and Google Lens can now help you detect scam messages and suspicious texts. Instead of just searching for definitions or images, these tools will analyse messages — like SMS, chat app texts, or social-media DMs — to determine if they might be scams.
Whether you’re on Android or iOS, the process is simple: use Circle to Search (on Android) to draw a circle around the suspicious text, or take a screenshot and open it in Google Lens (on Android or iOS). Google’s systems will then leverage AI plus web information to evaluate the content. If something looks fishy, you’ll get an “AI Overview”, a kind of quick report advising you whether the message is likely fraudulent, and what you could do next.
What’s Behind the Feature
Under the hood, Google is combining AI–powered language/text-analysis with data from the web. When you submit a suspicious text, Google searches for similar scam patterns, reports, and public warnings online, then uses that context to assess the risk level. The AI Overview may highlight red flags like known scam wording, suspicious links, or similar fraud reports.
If you get a suspicious message, here’s how to check it:
- On Android: long-press your home button or navigation bar, activate Circle to Search, then draw around the suspicious text.
- On Android or iOS: take a screenshot of the message, open the Google app, launch Lens, and tap the screenshot to analyse it.
- Within seconds, you’ll get an AI-powered summary indicating whether the message is likely a scam — plus guidance about what to do next.
Because the feature is built into tools many people already use, it avoids extra friction. You don’t need a separate anti-scam app or manual research; just a few taps to get a quick reality check.
Scanning As New Defences
Due to the new scam tactics that have grown more sophisticated, fake messages can closely mimic legitimate ones, making it hard to tell truth from fraud. By integrating scam detection directly into widely used tools, Google reduces the burden on users, making digital safety more accessible.
This update also reflects how AI can serve a protective role: rather than just searching for meaning or images, AI now screens for risk and deception. For everyday users — especially those who receive many messages daily — it could drastically reduce the chance of falling victim to scams. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
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