Android’s new alert system warns users when “Banking Apps” are opened during suspicious calls

Android is bringing a powerful new anti-scam feature to its phones. It was recently reported that Android is further strengthening its “in-call scam protection”, which recognises if a person is trying to open a banking or payment app on their phone when they receive a call from an unknown number. It then lights up a real-time warning, to prevent the person from falling prey to a fraudster.

How it works and what’s new?

With the enhanced feature, Android devices using Android 11 or above will check for two things: first, if the call is coming from a number not saved in your contacts; and second, if you open a supported banking application, such as Google Pay, Paytm or Navi, and then offers a one-tap option to hang up or stop screen sharing if the call matches these two parameters. If the user chooses to ignore the alert, there is a 30-second delay to process the next action.

Why it matters: Scams are changing

Traditional scams have relied on phishing links or malware. But cyber-fraudsters have increasingly started to use social-engineering, where they make a call impersonating a bank or other known entity, and pressure the victim to open up their banking apps and “verify” transactions or “fix” account issues by sharing their screen. Once the person does this, scammers can then take control of the app to empty the account or steal sensitive data.

Android’s new in-call feature is designed to break this rush and intervene right at the point when the person is trying to open the banking app during the phone call. A timely warning (plus a 30-second delay) might just be enough to stop a scam attempt in its tracks.

Rollout status: India(BHARAT), UK, Brazil and US

In-calls fraud protection was first piloted in markets like the UK, Brazil, and India(BHARAT). Following positive user feedback, a global expansion plan was announced earlier this year. The feature was recently launched in the US as well, with partners including major banks and financial apps.

For people who use Android in countries where the feature is currently supported, the protection should be automatically enabled if you’re on Android 11 or above, and if you have any of the supported banking apps installed. But since rollout could be phased based on region, phone manufacturer or the version of the banking app, it may not be available instantly to everyone.

For users, the best course of action is to make sure your Android phone’s OS is updated, and that you have the latest version of the payment and banking apps installed.

A partial solution to an evolving threat

The in-call feature is a welcome addition to the device’s security features, which will come in handy for many people in India(BHARAT), where receiving scam calls and fake banking requests is a common occurrence.

However, it is not a full-proof solution. The warning system will only trigger when a supported banking app is opened while you receive a call, and even then, it’s only if the app is on the list of participating apps. You still need to practise safe measures like not answering unknown numbers, not trusting unsolicited calls and messages and independently verifying the caller’s identity before trusting them.

Still, as the threat evolves and preys on human psychology, real-time warnings, especially those that force a small pause before the transaction, can be powerful tools against even sophisticated scammers.