Truecaller now lets users protect households from scam calls

In a proactive move against the surge in household-targeted scams, Truecaller has introduced a new feature designed for family-level protection. This innovative addition, named Family Protection, allows up to five family members to join a secure group managed by an administrator who oversees the scam-blocking settings for the entire household. Currently in a pilot phase, Family Protection is available to Android and iOS users in Sweden, Chile, Malaysia, and Kenya. The feature aims to empower the more tech-savvy individuals within a family to protect their less experienced relatives from the increasing number of fraudulent calls. The family administrator on Android will have access to several tools, including alerts for suspected scam calls, the ability to monitor basic device status such as battery levels, and the option to terminate calls identified as fraudulent. As the digital landscape expands, the rise in scam activity has been particularly pronounced in regions with a high number of first-time smartphone users and older adults, leading to a dramatic increase in impersonation and multi-step scam attempts. Truecaller plans to roll out this feature to additional regions, including India, by early 2026. According to CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala, the evolution of scams has shifted from targeting individuals to entire households, utilizing a series of calls and messages to exploit vulnerabilities within family units. This prompted the creation of the Family Protection system. While the feature remains free, family administrators have the option to upgrade to a Premium Family plan, which offers an ad-free experience, enhanced spam protection, and automatic rejection of high-risk calls. With a vast user base exceeding 450 million worldwide, Truecaller is equipped to detect approximately 63 million scam attempts daily, significantly contributing to the understanding of evolving fraud tactics. As it adapts to market and regulatory changes, especially in India—its largest market—Truecaller is also facing new competition from a government initiative introducing Caller Name Presentation, which displays caller names from telecom providers. Despite this, Truecaller continues to innovate, providing tools that not only enhance caller identification but also bolster family safety against scams. Jhunjhunwala emphasized that Family Protection enables one person's vigilance to enhance the safety of up to five family members without demanding extra effort from users.