Google launches new Verified Calls feature on Google Phone app

Android users will soon get more help directly from their phone screen to fight robocalls and spam calls. Google announced this week that the company's Phone app will start using a new Verified Calls feature to tell you not only what business is calling you, but why they're calling. Knowing that an unknown number is really who it claims to be is designed to help keep you from falling into common schemes where crooks pose as legitimate businesses to swindle you for sensitive information or money.

If Google has verified a business that's calling you (which it does in real-time to prevent spoofing), your screen will display the caller's name and logo along with a verification symbol. Verified callers will tell you why they're getting in touch too. That's useful, because you might not care to answer a promotional call, but you'll probably want to pick up to learn about flight time changes or if your bank wants to ask about unusual charges on your credit card.

The feature arrives at a time when spam calls are on the rise. U.S. consumers received 61.4 billion spam calls in 2019, according to a recent report from RoboKiller, representing a 28% increase from the prior year. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission also says that unwanted calls are its top consumer complaint.

Verified Calls is now rolling out in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Spain and India, with more countries to come. Brand and channel partners can go to Google's website to get their businesses verified.

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