Is Scam Detection enabled automatically on the Galaxy S26?

No. The feature is turned off by default. Users must manually enable it through the settings of the Phone or Messages app before the system begins monitoring calls and messages from unknown numbers.

Does Scam Detection send call data to external servers?

No. The feature runs entirely on the device using the Gemini Nano AI model, which means all analysis of calls and messages happens locally — no data is transmitted to the cloud, keeping user privacy intact.

Does it work on messages as well as calls?

Both. It analyzes phone calls in real time and also scans SMS messages and select messaging apps integrated with Android, looking for suspicious links, fake offers, and attempts to extract sensitive data.

Is the feature available to Galaxy S26 users outside the US?

Not currently. It operates in English only and is limited to the US market at launch. However, given Google's track record of expanding Pixel-exclusive features to additional regions, broader availability — including Arab markets — is expected in the future.

Is Scam Detection exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series?

For now, yes — within Samsung's lineup, the feature is only available on Galaxy S26. Whether it will roll out to older Samsung generations via software updates remains unconfirmed.

What Is the New Scam Detection Feature in Galaxy S26?

As phone scams grow increasingly sophisticated and costly, Samsung made a bold move at Galaxy Unpacked 2026: bringing the Scam Detection feature to the Galaxy S26 series — a capability that was previously exclusive to Google Pixel phones.

What Is Scam Detection?

The new feature relies on on-device AI to analyze incoming calls and messages, detecting patterns associated with fraudulent activity — a capability previously associated exclusively with Google's Pixel lineup.

Samsung integrated this feature into the Galaxy S26 series using Google's Gemini Nano AI model, which analyzes call patterns and messages locally on the device's processor — ensuring all data is processed on-device without being sent to cloud servers, preserving user privacy.

How Does It Work?

The system issues a clear alert when it suspects a call may be fraudulent — triggering the phone to vibrate, play a warning tone, and display an on-screen message indicating the conversation may involve a scam attempt. This gives users the chance to end the call or proceed with extreme caution before sharing any sensitive information.

The feature isn't limited to calls — it also extends to analyzing SMS messages and select messaging apps integrated with the system, scanning for suspicious links, fake offers, or attempts to extract sensitive personal data.

How Do You Enable It?

Scam Detection is not enabled by default on the Galaxy S26 — users must manually activate it through the settings of the Phone or Messages app in order for the system to begin monitoring calls and messages from unknown numbers.

Where Did This Feature Come From?

Google first introduced Scam Detection in 2024 as a Pixel-exclusive feature, with the official release in March 2025. That exclusivity ended at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco on February 25, when Samsung announced the feature's arrival on the Galaxy S26 series — marking a significant milestone in the Samsung–Google partnership.

Why Does This Matter?

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, losses from phone and message-based fraud exceeded one trillion dollars in 2024 alone. Modern scams no longer rely on a single suspicious call — emotional manipulation and fake job offers can unfold over days or weeks before a victim realizes what happened.

Current Limitations

Scam Detection on Galaxy S26 is currently available in English only and limited to the United States. By contrast, Google Pixel already supports the feature in markets such as Australia, India, and the UK — leaving the door open for Samsung to expand coverage to additional countries over time.