Is that text message spam or legit? This Android tool can tell you real quick
Is that text message spam or legit? This Android tool can tell you real quick
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-easily-check-whether-chats-or-messages-are-scams-on-android/
Publish Date: 2026-03-04 09:44:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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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.
Also: How to turn on Private DNS Mode on Android – and why it’s a must for security
Don’t get me wrong: 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.
How much does this really matter? Well, if you were to respond to the wrong message, you could wind up in a world of trouble. You don’t want that.
So, what do you do when you’re faced with a message you’re not sure about? You turn to Android.
Let me show you what I mean.
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. Sure, you can do that, and it’s a really helpful feature.
But Circle to Search has another very important feature: 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 to that fact.
Also: How to use Circle to Search on Android (and what models support it now)
When in doubt, why not?
Here’s how it’s done.
How to enable Circle to search
What you’ll need: Circle to Search is available on Android version 13 or later and requires a…
