Truecaller introduced the feature in December in countries including Sweden, Chile, Malaysia, and Kenya. After testing the system and seeing positive early results, the company decided to expand it worldwide. The feature is free to use and does not require a paid Truecaller subscription.
Group administrators can also manage protective settings for members. These include blocking specific numbers, restricting international calling codes, and sharing a common blocklist across the group. On Android devices, users may also grant permission for the admin to view certain real-time signals such as whether the phone is in silent mode, the device’s battery level, and whether the person is walking or driving.
Truecaller said these tools can help families protect vulnerable members from scams while also making it easier to reach them safely. At the same time, the company emphasized that admins cannot view members’ regular call logs or SMS history, limiting the scope of monitoring.
“I think, unfortunately, all of us know somebody or another in our families or friends who have been impacted by fraud,” said Kunal Dua, chief product officer at Truecaller, during a conversation with TechCrunch. “In that sense, it’s a fundamental shift for Truecaller in terms of what we’ve been focusing on as a problem.”
The company is also exploring how artificial intelligence could strengthen the protection system. One idea under consideration would allow AI to analyze incoming calls and notify the group admin about the type of fraud attempt a member might be receiving.
Another concept under review would use AI to screen calls in real time and automatically disconnect them if scam-related language is detected. One example the company cited is the phrase “digital arrest,” commonly used by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement to pressure victims into sending money or sharing sensitive details.
The feature arrives as scam calls continue to rise in key markets. In India alone, Truecaller said it detected more than 7.7 billion fraud calls last year. At the same time, the company faces business challenges. Its stock has fallen sharply over the past year, and its latest quarterly results showed a significant drop in operating profitability along with declining advertising revenue.
Truecaller is also watching the rollout of Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) in India, a system that displays the caller’s registered name from mobile carriers. Some analysts have questioned whether that service could affect Truecaller’s growth.
Chief executive Rishit Jhunjhunwala said during the company’s earnings call that the CNAP rollout has so far had limited impact on its user growth. “Our focus continues to be on delivering a superior product,” he said, adding that consumers can use both CNAP and Truecaller together because the company provides additional context and spam protection tools.
This analysis is based on reporting from Yahoo Tech.
Image courtesy of Truecaller.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
