Android is testing new scam protections in the US to combat sophisticated social engineering tactics that “trick users into sharing their phone screen” and bank apps.
One popular scam involves criminals impersonating banks or other trusted institutions on the phone to try to manipulate victims into sharing their screen in order to reveal banking information or make a financial transfer.
If you’re on the phone with a number that isn’t saved in your contacts and screen sharing is active, opening banking applications will see your Android 11+ device “automatically warn you about the potential dangers” with a pop-up that takes up most of the screen. There’s a big red “End call now” button that also stops the sharing session.
Scammers may be trying to access your finances through this call. For your protection, end the call. This will also stop sharing your screen.
- The caller may be posing as someone else
- Don’t follow caller’s instructions
- Don’t share personal or financial info
Critically, this warning adds a 30-second pause period before you can proceed to “break the ‘spell’ of the scammer’s social engineering, disrupting the false sense of urgency and panic commonly used to manipulate you into a scam.”
Android first tested this safety feature in the UK earlier this year, with Google noting how this has “already helped thousands of users end calls that could have cost them a significant amount of money.”
Google is now piloting this protection measure in the US with a” number of popular fintechs like Cash App and banks, including JPMorganChase.”
We are committed to collaborating across the ecosystem to help keep people safe from scams. We look forward to learning from these pilots and bringing these critical safeguards to even more users in the future.
This joins how you can’t disable Google Play Protect, perform your first sideload, or other risky actions when you’re in a phone call.
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