Google launched Phone by Google, a call verification feature on Pixel devices that uses secure device-to-device handshakes to flag spoofed calls in real time. The feature counters AI-driven phone scams that clone voices and spoof caller IDs, a threat that cost Americans $893 million according to the FBI, while Interpol estimates global identity fraud exceeds $400 billion. Google built the feature on the RCS standard and plans broader Android rollout, though no US timeline for non-Pixel devices has been announced.
Google Launches Device Handshake Verification on Pixel Phones
Google rolled out Phone by Google with the latest Android update on Pixel devices. When a known contact calls, the app performs a secure handshake between both phones. If the handshake is missing or tampered with, the phone flags the call in real time and prompts the user to hang up. Google describes the process: when a contact calls, the user's phone pings the contact's device to confirm the call origin. If a scammer spoofs the number and mimics the voice, no confirmation signal is sent. The device then checks the contact's real phone, and if it is idle, displays an on-screen warning. The feature validates the device rather than the number or voice. Support is currently limited to Google phones running Android 12 or newer.
FBI Reports $893M in AI Scam Losses
The FBI cited $893 million in losses to AI-linked schemes. Interpol pegs global identity fraud at over $400 billion. Voice cloning technology allows fraudsters to make fake calls from relatives sound real. The verification method targets this weakness by validating the device before the call is answered.
Google Plans RCS-Based Rollout Across Android Devices
Google built the feature on RCS, an open standard that carriers and Android phone makers can implement. The company has not given a US-wide timeline for non-Pixel phones. US carriers already deploy caller ID authentication frameworks, and the FCC has pushed for STIR/SHAKEN standards to make network-level spoofing harder. The handset-level handshake can complement those protections by validating call origin on the device.
FAQ
What did Google launch on Pixel devices?
Google launched Phone by Google, a call verification feature that uses device-to-device handshakes to flag spoofed calls in real time on Pixel devices running Android 12 or newer.
How much did Americans lose to AI-linked phone scams according to the FBI?
The FBI cited $893 million in losses to AI-linked schemes, while Interpol estimates global identity fraud exceeds $400 billion.
How does Google plan to expand the verification feature to other Android devices?
Google built the feature on the RCS standard, which carriers and Android phone makers can implement, though the company has not announced a US timeline for non-Pixel devices.
