Is that message spam or real? This Android trick helps you ID the scams

Source: ZDNet

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Distinguishing spam messages from real ones can be tricky.
• Android has a scam‑fighting AI trick up its sleeve.
• Circle to Search is available on Pixel and Galaxy phones.

I don’t know about you, but I receive more spam and scam messages on my phone each day than I do legitimate messages from friends and family. It’s out of control.

When I receive these messages, I always report them and block the sender. But sometimes, the messages are so carefully crafted that it’s not always easy to discern if a message is a scam. I’ll comb through the message, trying to spot the clues.

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The majority of these messages are obviously spam/scam. My general rule is that if I don’t recognize the number, it’s probably a scam, so I report it. But every so often, a message’s legitimacy eludes me.

If you respond to the wrong message, you could wind up in a world of trouble. So, what do you do when you’re faced with a message you’re not sure about? You turn to Android.

What is Circle to Search?

You might think that Android’s Circle to Search feature is nothing more than a way to find the perfect pair of shoes you’ve seen in an image. It’s a helpful feature, but it also has another very important capability: it can help you determine whether an SMS or DM is a scam.

Circle to Search uses AI to read a message and decipher its meaning. If the on‑board AI believes a message is a scam, it will alert you.

Also: How to use Circle to Search on Android (and what models support it now)

How to enable Circle to Search

What you’ll need: Android 13 or later, and a supported device (Google Pixel 6 or newer and/or Samsung Galaxy S21 or newer).

1. Open the Settings app (pull down the notification shade twice and tap the gear icon).
2. Go to Display & touch > Navigation mode.
3. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see Circle to Search with an On/Off slider. Turn the slider On.

Using Circle to Search to avoid scams

1. Open the messaging app and locate the suspicious text.
2. Long‑press the navigation bar at the bottom of the window (or the Home button if you use three‑button navigation).
3. Draw a circle around the message. The on‑board AI will analyze the text and inform you if it’s suspicious.

Also: This silent Android feature scans your photos for “sensitive content” – how to disable it

If the AI flags the message as a scam, block and report it immediately. If the message isn’t labeled as spam or scam, proceed with caution—AI can make mistakes. When Circle to Search labels a message as safe but you remain suspicious, do additional research to verify.

Also: Your Android phone just got a powerful anti‑theft upgrade. Here’s what’s new

From my experience, Circle to Search has been spot‑on in detecting scams, and it’s become my default action for incoming messages that aren’t from a contact. I highly recommend enabling and using this feature. When Circle to Search tags a message as a scam, report it and delete it.