Outlook Business Desk
Text message fraud continues to rise as scammers refine their methods. Fake alerts and urgent warnings are increasingly used to pressure users into reacting quickly, often before verifying whether the message is genuine.
Many scam texts mimic banks or online services, warning of account issues or suspicious activity. The intention is to create fear and push users towards clicking links or sharing sensitive personal details.
Scam texts now closely mirror genuine messages, copying trusted language and formats. This makes it difficult for users to verify authenticity quickly, even when they are familiar with common fraud warning signs.
Google has enhanced Circle to Search on Android to address this challenge. The update focuses on helping users quickly identify suspicious texts without interacting directly with potentially harmful messages.
Users can activate Circle to Search by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar. The tool opens instantly over the screen, allowing analysis without clicking links or responding to unknown senders.
After activating the feature, users circle the suspicious message on screen. Google then examines the text using artificial intelligence (AI) and publicly available online data to assess potential scam risks.
Within moments, Circle to Search explains whether the message is likely fraudulent. It also highlights specific warning signs, helping users understand why the text may pose a security threat.
Beyond identifying individual scams, the feature helps users learn common fraud patterns. This approach aims to improve long-term awareness and confidence when dealing with unexpected or alarming text messages.
For Android users without Circle to Search, Google Lens offers a similar solution. By analysing screenshots or images of messages, it can provide context and warnings about possible scam attempts.