Google wants users to see if they can spot a scam before it happens

Google is raising awareness about online scams by promoting its “Be Scam Ready” game on the Google Search homepage in India.

Google is currently showing a Be Scam Ready promotion below the search box, accompanied by a blue shield icon and the message: “Be Scam Ready: How would you handle a scam?” The “Test yourself in real-life scenarios” call to action opens the game page, where users can work through interactive scam scenarios.

Be Scam Ready is not a new game. Google has already used it as part of its broader scam-awareness efforts. It places users in simulated scam situations and asks them to decide what they would do next, giving them a chance to learn about common tactics without facing the consequences of a real scam.

The game covers tactics scammers use to create urgency, exploit trust, and persuade users to share personal information or take risky actions. Working through the scenarios lets users see how those tactics may appear in different situations.

Google has promoted products, services, and other initiatives from the Search homepage before, so the placement itself is not unusual. What stands out is the focus: a safety experience intended to help users recognize scam tactics and spend a few minutes learning what warning signs to watch for.