Truecaller Shields Families from Scam Calls with New Household Protection

Truecaller has launched a household-level scam-protection feature as the Swedish company broadens its role beyond caller ID in response to the rising number of fraud attempts that target multiple members of a home. The new feature, called Family Protection, lets up to five people join a family group overseen by one member who acts as the administrator and manages scam-blocking settings for the others. Family Protection is initially rolling out as a pilot for Android and iOS users in Sweden, Chile, Malaysia, and Kenya. According to Truecaller, the feature is designed so that the more digitally confident person in a household can handle scam controls on behalf of less tech-savvy family members. On Android, the family administrator can receive alerts during suspected scam calls; view basic device status, including battery level; and remotely end calls flagged as fraudulent, the company said. Truecaller said this approach aims to bridge the gap in digital literacy between family members, ensuring everyone's safety in a household. Scam activity has been rising worldwide as more people come online. That activity has exploded in markets where first-time smartphone users and older adults are more exposed to fraud. Countries, including India, have reported sharp increases in impersonation attempts and multi-step schemes that exploit gaps in digital knowledge. Truecaller's move to introduce Family Protection reflects the growing need for comprehensive solutions to combat scams. "Family Protection is a significant step forward in our mission to make the world a safer place," said Alan Mamedi, Truecaller's CEO. "We believe that by empowering families to work together, we can create a stronger defense against scammers and protect more people from falling victim to their tactics." The new feature is part of Truecaller's broader efforts to expand its services beyond caller ID and spam detection. In recent years, the company has introduced features such as call recording, call blocking, and real-time language translation. Truecaller's Family Protection feature is now available to users in the pilot countries, with plans to expand to other markets in the future. Truecaller's move into household-level scam protection highlights the growing importance of digital safety in the age of widespread smartphone adoption. As more people come online, the need for effective solutions to combat scams and protect vulnerable individuals has become increasingly pressing. Truecaller's Family Protection feature is a significant step in addressing this challenge, and its success will be closely watched by the industry.