Google announced an expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) powered fraud detection features in India, introducing on-device scam detection for its Pixel 9 devices and new screen-sharing alerts for financial applications. This initiative is deployed as India experiences a continued rise in digital fraud, particularly as smartphone usage for payments and online services increases across the population.
Digital fraud cases involving financial transactions accounted for over half of all reported bank fraud in India in 2024, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These incidents totaled 13,516 cases, resulting in losses of approximately ₹5.2 billion (about $58.61 million). Separately, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported estimated losses from online scams reached ₹70 billion (roughly $789 million) in the first five months of 2025.
The expanded real-time scam detection feature utilizes Google's Gemini Nano AI to analyze calls on-device, flagging potential fraud without recording audio or transmitting data to Google servers. This feature, which debuted as a beta in the U.S. in March for English-speaking Pixel 9 users, will initially be available on Pixel 9 and later models in India, limited to English-speaking users, with warnings also in English. Google confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature will be off by default, applies only to calls from unknown numbers, and includes an audible beep during flagged conversations to notify participants. While Android holds nearly 96% of the smartphone market in India, Pixel devices represented less than 1% market share in 2024, according to Statcounter. Google has stated it is working to bring scam detection to non-Pixel Android phones but has not provided a timeline.
In parallel, Google has initiated a pilot program in India for screen-sharing alerts with financial applications such as Navi, Paytm, and Google Pay. This feature aims to counter scams where fraudsters persuade victims to share their screens to obtain sensitive credentials like one-time passwords and PINs during calls. Announced at Google I/O in May and initially tested in the U.K., these alerts will be accessible to users with devices running Android 11 or later, offering a one-tap option to terminate calls and stop screen sharing. Google confirmed plans to integrate additional app partners and display alerts in various Indian languages, though specific details were not provided.
Google's broader efforts in India to combat digital fraud include its Play Protect service, which has restricted predatory loan apps by blocking over 115 million sideloaded app installation attempts this year. Google Pay issues more than one million warnings weekly for potentially fraudulent transactions, and its DigiKavach awareness campaign has reportedly reached over 250 million people. Earlier this year, Google launched a Safety Charter in India to scale up its AI-driven fraud detection and security operations.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist for Google in addressing digital fraud within India's market. Reports from police and security researchers indicate instances of fake and misleading apps appearing on the Google Play Store, underscoring ongoing difficulties in policing the app ecosystem.
