McAfee announced today that it is adding a new feature to all its core plans that aims to help users spot scams more easily. Called Scam Detector, it’s now included by default and is designed to detect scams across text messages, emails, and even videos. It comes at a time when online scams are getting more common and harder to spot, especially with AI now being used to make fake messages and deepfakes look more believable.
Over the past year, scams have grown more frequent and sophisticated. According to McAfee, the average person in the U.S. faces about 14 scam attempts every day. These can range from fake shipping notifications and toll payment requests to AI-generated videos promoting investment scams. The tools scammers are using now are much more convincing than they used to be, and falling for just one of these tricks can be costly.
To try and keep up with the threat, McAfee says Scam Detector uses AI to check the full content of a message or video, not just links. It looks at what is being said, how it’s phrased, and where it’s coming from. It can also be adjusted depending on how strict someone wants their scam filter to be. Users can choose between Low, Balanced, or High settings, depending on how aggressive they want the scanning to be.
Scam Detector has three sensitivity levels you can choose from. | Image credit — McAfee
Here are some of the core features that come with Scam Detector:
Text scam detection with over 99% accuracy
Detection of deepfake videos with up to 96% accuracy
Real-time alerts for suspicious texts, emails, and videos
Works across apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger, Gmail, and more
On-demand scan for messages, screenshots, or links
Privacy-focused, with content scanned on the device
Email scanning across Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft accounts
Explanation of why something was flagged to help people learn what to watch for
Unlike scam protection features from companies like Google, which are split across different products — such as in-call scam detection on Pixel phones or scam filtering in Gmail — McAfee’s approach is to offer everything in one place. Scam Detector works across multiple apps, browsers, and platforms regardless of the device or ecosystem. It’s a more unified solution, which could be helpful for people who don’t rely on a single brand’s services.
Scam Detector works across several messaging and video apps on Android and iOS. | Images credit — McAfee
How does it work?
On Android, scam texts are automatically scanned before they’re even opened. iPhone users can manually scan messages or use filters to catch suspicious ones. Scam Detector also checks videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where deepfakes are increasingly common. Earlier this year, McAfee found that YouTube alone accounted for the majority of deepfake scam detections. Scam Detector also works on PC, with Mac and Chromebook support offered at the moment as a technology preview.
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Scam Detector working on a Windows PC. | Image credit — McAfee
Alongside the tool, McAfee has also launched a campaign called Keep it Real, which encourages people to share their scam experiences. The idea is to reduce the shame around falling for scams and help others learn what to look out for. Stories range from fake concert tickets and stolen phone numbers to IRS impersonation scams. Many of these incidents happened in moments of stress or distraction.
Deepfake alert on YouTube mobile. | Image credit — McAfee
Scam Detector is included with all McAfee core plans, which start at $39.99 per month for a two-year membership. There are multiple tiers available depending on how many devices you want to cover and what extra features you need.
While no solution is perfect, this type of all-in-one protection could make it easier for people to stay ahead of modern scams. Having scam detection that works across your apps and devices, without needing to rely on separate tools, may offer a bit more peace of mind in a digital world that feels less predictable every day.
Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.
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