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Samsung Expands AI Scam Call Detection With One UI 9

Samsung’s One UI 9 update expands on-device scam call detection, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. Availability still varies by country, and Samsung has not published a device list.

Older woman smiling at her phone at home, the kind of everyday moment AI scam call detection protects

Samsung’s stable One UI 9 update is expanding its Scam Detection feature to more countries and languages. The feature warns you during a phone call that may be a scam. Samsung’s newsroom confirms the expansion, but it doesn’t list which phones get it or on what date.

For context, the FTC’s report on older consumers found that reported losses for adults 60 and over reached about $2.4 billion in 2024, up from about $600 million in 2020. Fox Business, reporting on the same data, said scams that begin with a phone call have the highest median reported loss, at $2,210. The FTC also estimated that the true cost of fraud to older adults in 2024 could range from $10.1 billion to $81.5 billion, depending on the method. Reported figures are lower because many victims never report.

According to Sammy Fans, the feature analyses speech from an unknown caller and shows a warning on screen if it sees signs of a scam. The report says the call isn’t sent to Samsung’s servers, so the analysis happens on the phone. Sammy Fans also reports that Google developed the underlying technology and first introduced it on Pixel phones. We haven’t seen Samsung confirm either point in its newsroom post, so treat them as reported, not confirmed.

For comparison, Android Central reported in November 2024 that Google’s Pixel version is off by default, runs on the device, and doesn’t save or send call audio. It launched in English only, as a U.S. beta on Pixel 6 through Pixel 9. Samsung hasn’t said whether its version matches those details.

Samsung has not published accuracy rates, false alarm rates, or the languages the detector understands.

To turn it on, Sammy Fans says to open the Phone app, go to Settings, and select Scam detection. The phone may prompt you to download AI models the first time.

Fox Business attributes a set of three warning signs to AARP: unexpected contact, a surge of emotion, and a sense of urgency. AARP suggests pausing when you notice them. A warning banner can prompt that pause, but it doesn’t replace it.

Why It Matters to You

A warning on screen during a suspicious call can give anyone a moment to stop and think, which matters most for older adults, who the FTC says lose the most to scams. Galaxy S26 owners are named first, and Samsung says other eligible models will follow, so check your own phone after updating. It’s a prompt to pause, not a guarantee, so hang up and call back on a number you trust if a caller asks for money.

What we can’t tell you yet

  1. Samsung’s release says Scam Detection will be available in Japan, Canada, and India. It doesn’t name every market, and it says availability varies by country, region, language, device model, and One UI version.
  2. Sammy Fans names only the Galaxy S26 series for the stable One UI 9 rollout. It says “all eligible models” will get the feature, without listing them.
  3. No accuracy data exists yet, so there’s no way to say how often it catches a scam or raises a false alarm.
  4. The $2,210 median and the $81.5 billion estimate describe scams in general. They don’t measure how many losses this feature would prevent.
  5. The $2.4 billion figure covers reported losses for adults 60 and over, not all ages.

Two quick questions

Which Galaxy phones get scam call detection, and does Samsung record my calls?

The report names the Galaxy S26 series. Samsung says other eligible models will follow, but it hasn’t published a list for this feature. As for recording, Sammy Fans reports that the analysis happens on the phone and the call isn’t sent to Samsung’s servers. Samsung’s newsroom post doesn’t state this directly, so read Samsung’s privacy terms if it matters to you.

Is it on by default, and can I rely on it?

The reports describe turning it on in the Phone app settings, so check the setting after you update. And no, don’t rely on it to catch every scam. Hang up and call your bank back on a number you trust if a caller asks for a PIN or a transfer.

Sources

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