I’m guessing I’m not alone in getting more scam and spam calls than ever before. As a result, Google and the other Android phone makers have gradually added a range of built-in features to detect and deal with unwanted callers. These include having suspicious numbers flagged before you answer, being able to block nuisance callers, and even getting AI to answer incoming calls for you. Putting these protections in place should go a long way toward dealing with unwanted calls.
As usual on Android, different models offer different features. The guide below was written using a Google Pixel phone with Android 15 and a Samsung Galaxy phone with One UI 6.1. Other Android-based phones may differ slightly, but you should find a similar set of tools available.
Spotting scam calls in advance
Using a Pixel or other Android phone
When a call comes in that isn’t from a number in your contacts, the Google Phone app preinstalled on Pixel phones can send it to Google for checking. (If you’re not on a Pixel phone, you can still install the app on other Android phones.) Google says it “gathers various signals about the call” during the check — which I presume means cross-referencing it against a…
