Google India’s Trust and Safety lead, Kartikeya Mitra, shared insights into the company’s efforts to combat online scams in India. Google prevented fraudulent Google Pay transactions worth ₹13,000 crores in 2024. Over 2.36 million policy-violating apps were blocked on the Google Play Store through AI-driven real-time detection.
“Fraud is evolving rapidly, with scammers leveraging major events and advanced technology to exploit users,” said Mitra. During festivals like Diwali, fake donations and travel scams become more prevalent. AI-generated celebrity investment scams use deepfake technology to impersonate public figures promoting fake cryptocurrency schemes.
Google actively combats online fraud through AI-driven detection, strict enforcement, and user awareness initiatives. AI-driven systems now detect 96% of policy-violating content on YouTube. Google Play Protect scans 200 billion apps daily, blocking 13.9 million harmful installations and identifying 13 million new malicious apps.
Strict enforcement led to the removal of 2.36 million policy-violating apps and the banning of 158,000 developer accounts.
Google’s initiatives against online fraud
The DigiKavach campaign has reached 177 million Indians, spreading awareness about financial fraud. Google.org has provided grant support to two nonprofits: CyberPeace Foundation, which has equipped over 197,000 individuals with fact-checking and responsible online behavior skills, and The Asia Foundation, which is working to equip 45,000 MSMEs with tools to combat cyber threats.
Google has taken significant steps to combat predatory loan apps in India. Machine learning algorithms analyze app behavior, requested permissions, and user feedback to flag suspicious apps. Proactive measures include real-time AI interventions, collaboration with financial regulators and law enforcement, and efforts to shut down fraudulent networks.
Festival-related scams spike during major events like Diwali and Dussehra. Google enhances its detection systems to monitor and remove fraudulent websites, phishing attempts, and impersonation scams. Google Pay issued 41 million fraud alerts during peak festive seasons, preventing numerous financial scams.
Collaboration with policymakers is central to Google’s strategy to combat online fraud. Google’s partnership with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre facilitates the exchange of critical information regarding fraudulent financial activities, enhancing the ability to investigate and mitigate scams. Google remains committed to enhancing security, enforcing strict policies, and educating users to build a safer digital ecosystem.
