Google Flags 500M Scam Messages Monthly as Cybercrime Surges in India
Tech giant launches AI-powered Safety Charter to combat rising cybercrime, warns of deep fake scams and ₹20,000 crore projected losses As cybercrime accelerates across India, Google has announced a major AI-driven initiative under its new “Safety Charter” to fight online fraud. The tech giant revealed this week that it now detects over 500 million scam messages monthly and is working closely with Indian authorities to boost public cybersecurity awareness and enforcement. With India’s digital economy growing rapidly, cybercriminals are using refined methods such as deep fakes, voice cloning, and fake banking apps to trick users. According to Google, scams involving Unified Payments Interface (UPI) alone caused ₹1,087 crore in losses in 2024, and total cybercrime-related damages could hit ₹20,000 crore in 2025. The company is using AI across Google Messages, Search, and Ads to detect and block threats. It claims to have removed 247 million scam ads, suspended 2.9 million accounts, and prevented access to thousands of fake support and government websites, down 80% and 70% respectively. Google’s new scam detection tool in Google Messages has flagged over 500 million suspicious messages per month, triggering 2.5 billion user warnings. The company is also partnering with India’s DigiKavach programme and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to launch public awareness campaigns. “AI is now a critical frontline defence,” Google wrote in its blog post. “Our systems are identifying and stopping threats much earlier — often before they reach the user.” Advice: The magnitude of cybercrime threats and the expanding significance of AI in defence are demonstrated by Google’s most recent action. Users must remain alert as scammers change. Security Tips: Make sure all accounts have two-factor authentication enabled. Never download dubious programs or click on unidentified links. Report scams to cybercrime.gov.in. Verify banking apps from official app stores only. Stay updated with alerts from CERT-In and Google’s Safety Centre.