Android adds Enhanced mode to Google Messages to catch clever scammers

Credit: Cory Gunther / How-To Geek Published Oct 14, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Scammers might be using ever-more sophisticated tricks, but your phone will soon have a better chance at spotting those ploys. Google is rolling out a string of upgrades to Android scam detection that can thwart more advanced schemes. The centerpiece of the update is an optional Enhanced protection mode in Google Messages. Enable it and the texting app will use a private form of high-end Gemini cloud models to gauge a scammer's intentions. You'll get a warning even if the culprit is trying something new, according to Google. The Enhanced safeguard also uses an on-device Gemini Nano model to flag suspicious web links that would previously have gone unchecked, such as newly-created sites that might be used for malware or phishing. If there is a potential threat, revamped warnings give you more "checkpoints" (such as a clearer explanation) so that you think carefully before you tap. This previously only worked in some countries or when you locked down your phone with Android Advanced Protection. Other detection improvements help identify scams during calls. Screen sharing now hides sensitive info like bank details or passwords in Chrome and WebView, not just native apps. You'll also get an alert if a perpetrator tries to quietly forward calls to another number or asks you to type in a forwarding code. Existing notification scam alerts are coming to "hundreds of millions" more devices, Google says. This includes Motorola phones as well as Chinese handset makers like Honor, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. What do I need for Enhanced scam detection in Android? Some features need recent phones Not every scam detection feature is guaranteed to work on the phone you have. Enhanced Mode requires AICore-savvy devices like the Pixel 6, Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6. Gemini Nano link checks require even newer phones like the Pixel 10, Galaxy S26, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. The checkpoints for strange links are more forgiving and only require Android 6 or newer when they arrive later in October. The screen sharing privacy expansion requires at least Android 15, while the call forwarding shield is coming in early December to Pixels and "other select devices." The widened notification alerts are due sometime later in the year. These moves don't absolve you of responsibility. You'll want to be skeptical of texts and double-check any links. However, Google's new approach theoretically serves as a safety net that will protect you against more creative scammers.