Circle to Search strengthens its efforts to detect digital scams

Digital scams have become commonplace: messages that ask for bank details, strange links, or urgent alerts who try to make us nervous so we'll take the bait. Given this situation, Google has decided to change how we use our mobile phones to check for this type of suspicious content..

The company is expanding its capabilities Circle to Search and Google Lens so they can act as a kind of "express second opinion" in the face of possible scamsInstead of having to copy and paste text or search for information on your own, it is now possible directly mark any questionable fragment on the screen and let Artificial Intelligence do the analysis work in the background.

Circle to Search as a tool against scams

Google has incorporated new features of Artificial Intelligence in Circle to Search Specifically to combat the rise in scams circulating via SMS, messaging apps, and social media. The idea is simple: when you see a text that seems suspicious, you can Circle it on the screen and request an immediate evaluation from the system..

To activate Circle to Search on a compatible Android mobile device, simply Press and hold the home button or the navigation bar And once the interface appears, select the suspicious fragment. The system captures that text, sends it to Google's AI models, and in a matter of seconds, It returns an overview with potential signs of fraud. y practical recommendations.

According to the company, many scams share fairly predictable patterns: unjustified urgency, promises of easy money, impersonation of banks or public servicesBy leveraging these patterns, Circle to Search is able to detect common clues and present them clearly to the user.

If Google's systems have a high level of confidence that it is a fraud attempt, the user will see a structured response that It explains why the message may be dangerous and what steps to take.Common suggestions include ignoring the link, not sharing personal data, blocking the sender, or contacting the official channels of the supposedly involved entity. what steps to follow

How scam detection works step by step

The process is designed so that anyone can use it without technical complications. In the case of Circle to Search on AndroidThe flow is straightforward: while viewing a chat, email, or webpage, you activate the function and You circle with your finger the text that makes you distrustfulThere's no need to leave the app you're in, making it easy to check messages "on the go".

From that moment on, the selected content opens in a AI-powered Overview, where an analysis of the potential fraud is shown. This response includes explanations of the tricks used (for example, identity theft or social engineering) as well guidance on how to act to avoid economic or security consequences.

Google indicates that the system relies on public information from across the webcombined with advanced AI models, to assess the likelihood of it being a scam. The functionality is only prominently displayed when the algorithms determine that the quality of the diagnosis is sufficiently highthus reducing the risk of troublesome false positives.

Among the signals that this technology is able to highlight are, for example, urgent payment requests, threats of account closure, suspicious spelling mistakes or inconsistencies in company names and web addresses. All of this is presented in a summarized way so that the user can understand the problem at a glance.

This integration of AI into visual search represents a significant change: instead of going to a help page or manually searching for text in a browser, the analysis It runs directly on what appears on the screen., with less friction and fewer intermediate steps.

Google Lens: alternative for Android and iOS

For those who don't use Circle to Search or have an unsupported device, Google has extended these capabilities to Google Lens, on both Android and iOSThe procedure is similar, but it is based on screenshots: first, the suspicious message is captured, and then Lens is opened from the Google app.

Once inside Lens, the user selects the capture and Let the system analyze the text contained in the imageGoogle's AI processes that information and, just like in Circle to Search, returns a preview with indicators of potential fraud and security recommendations.

This method is especially useful for reviewing messages from messaging appssocial media or even pop-up notifications which don't always allow for easy text copying. With a screenshot, any content displayed on the screen can be subjected to the same type of analysis.

Google emphasizes that these scam detection features in Lens They are available globallyThis means that users in Europe and Spain can also take advantage of this additional layer of protection when they encounter suspicious messages in their daily lives.

The company's approach does not seek to replace the person's judgment, but reinforce it in a context where cybercriminals use AI to make their scams increasingly convincing. Having a tool accessible from your own mobile device helps curb impulsive decisions made under pressure.

Why Google is betting on AI to combat scams

In recent years there has been a notable growth in the fraudulent messages impersonating banks, parcel services, and online marketplaces or even public administrations. These types of scams, known as phishing o smishingThey remain among the most profitable for criminals.

The problem is no longer just volume, but quality: with the support of generative AI tools, many of these messages They have improved in writing, coherence, and appearance.This makes it difficult to distinguish them from legitimate communication. Faced with this scenario, Google has decided to incorporate AI on the defensive side as well, integrating it into everyday tools like visual search.

The company maintains that most online scams follow a relatively repetitive “formula”Although they may be disguised with different excuses. Circle to Search and Lens rely precisely on that repetition to learn to better detect patterns, so that they can point out the most common red flags when they appear on the user's screen.

In addition to helping identify attempts to steal data or money, this feature aligns with other security improvements that Google is rolling out across the Android ecosystem, such as New options to control unwanted group chats or mark calls as urgentAll of this is part of a broader effort to limit the room for maneuver of malicious actors.

In Europe, where regulations on privacy and consumer protection are particularly strict, these types of functions can have a direct impact on the Reduction of fraud against individual users and small businesses, who are often the preferred target of massive text message scam campaigns.

Global availability and limitations of the tool

Both the detection of scams in Circle to Search like in Google Lens It's available globally, although the specific activation may vary depending on the device and the Android or iOS version. Google indicates that the rollout will be gradual and that the feature will appear more frequently when their systems reach high levels of confidence in the generated responses.

In practice, this means that a potential scam warning will not always be displayed for every unusual text; instead, the tool will prioritize cases where the evidence is clearerThis approach aims to prevent users from becoming accustomed to constant warnings and eventually ignoring them due to saturation.

Nevertheless, the company points out that, although AI can provide context and useful clues, There is no infallible systemScammers also adapt their strategies, and new campaigns that don't yet fit known patterns can always appear. Therefore, the basic advice remains to be wary of messages that ask for sensitive data or money urgently.

In Spain and the rest of Europe, where many users have already encountered fake package delivery notices, supposed tax refunds, or fabricated bank messagesHaving this type of help integrated into your mobile phone can make the difference between deleting a message in time or falling into the trap.

Google's commitment to bringing Artificial Intelligence to Circle to Search and Google Lens makes the device itself a more active ally against digital scams: analyze in seconds what previously required independent research It makes it easier for more people, without needing to be cybersecurity experts, to make safer decisions when something doesn't quite add up on their screen.