Google rolls out real-time scam detector for Chrome users

If you've ever seen a scary pop-up warning that says your computer has a virus and urges you to call a phone number, chances are you were nearly caught in a tech support scam.

These scams are on the rise. They use fake security alerts, full-screen warnings, and even lock your keyboard or mouse to convince you that something’s wrong. The goal? To trick you into paying for fake help or giving hackers remote access to your computer.

Google is now giving users a fighting chance.

With the release of Chrome v137, Google is introducing a new AI-powered scam detector built right into the browser. It uses Gemini Nano, a lightweight version of Google's large language model, directly on your device to detect scam websites in real time. Before you get tricked.

How it works

When you visit a sketchy site that shows signs of a scam, like trying to block your keyboard or mimic antivirus software, Chrome quietly checks it using the AI. The model reads the page and looks for telltale signs that it’s trying to deceive or scare you.

If the page looks suspicious, Chrome sends a summary to Google’s Safe Browsing system for further analysis. If confirmed, you’ll get a clear warning telling you not to proceed.

Importantly, all of this happens without slowing down your browser, and the AI runs locally on your device, not in the cloud. That means your data stays private, and Chrome can react instantly. This is a key advantage because many scam sites only stay online for a few minutes before disappearing.

Who gets the new feature?

This feature is rolling out first to users who have enabled Enhanced Protection in Chrome's Safe Browsing settings. But even if you’re using the standard protection, you’ll still benefit as newly discovered scam sites get added to Google's blocklists.

What’s next?

Google says this is just the beginning. The same AI system could soon help detect other types of scams too. Like fake package delivery alerts or phishing sites pretending to collect toll payments. Google is also working on bringing the same protection to Chrome on Android later this year.