Google has announced a pilot of two new Android features designed to combat mobile scams in Singapore, furthering its commitment to enhancing security for users. In partnership with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the tech giant is introducing a new feature in Google Messages and an enhancement to Google Play Protect (GPP), aimed at curbing common scam tactics used by cybercriminals.

Scammers operating from overseas have increasingly targeted Singapore through text messages, with over 700 SMS scam cases reported in the first half of 2024. Google’s new measures are set to address this growing issue.

Blocking International Messages to Thwart SMS Scams

The first of the two features allows Android users in Singapore to block messages from unknown international numbers. This opt-in feature, available in Google Messages under the ‘Protection & Safety’ settings, will enable users to block both SMS and RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages from international sources, thereby reducing their exposure to scams. Given that many scams originate from overseas, this feature offers an additional layer of security and greater peace of mind for users.

The second feature focuses on preventing scammers from disabling Google Play Protect (GPP) during audio and video calls, a tactic often used to bypass security and install malicious apps on victims’ devices. This enhancement ensures that GPP remains active during calls, making it more difficult for scammers to compromise Android devices.

Eugene Liderman, Director of Android Security Strategy, emphasized the importance of these updates: “We’ve made significant strides in protecting people from scams, and we will continue introducing new features and mitigations to stay ahead of bad actors as they continuously evolve their tactics.”

Building on Ongoing Fraud Prevention Efforts

These new features build on Google’s prior efforts to protect users from scams. Earlier in 2024, Google introduced a fraud protection feature on GPP in collaboration with Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA). This feature has blocked close to 1.3 million high-risk app installation attempts and has been successful in preventing the installation of malicious apps that impersonate popular services like messaging and e-commerce platforms.

Since its launch, Google’s anti-fraud measures have safeguarded more than 300,000 devices in Singapore, highlighting the company’s dedication to creating a safer mobile environment. These efforts collectively underscore Google’s ongoing collaboration with the Singapore government to combat scams and financial fraud while enhancing user security across the mobile ecosystem.

The new features will begin rolling out to Android devices in Singapore over the coming months, further strengthening the country’s defenses against mobile scams.