Real-time scam call detection app OnGuardAI launches in US

“All processing happens in the moment, during the call itself,” OnGuardAI co-founder and CEO Richard Gotlieb said in an email. “Once a call ends, no data about it is stored, we never keep recordings or transcripts.” Gotlieb added that his father’s experience with a scam caller showed him that even educated consumers can be tricked into handing over money.

The app analyzes speech for what the company calls known social engineering tactics, such as emotional pressure and manipulation. Several services already flag suspicious calls, but OnGuardAI’s approach adds a family alert with a list of red flags and suggested actions.

The app is not yet widely available in Canada because of carrier charges for call forwarding, Gotlieb explained. It works with Rogers-band carriers. The team is working on availability through Bell and Telus carriers, he said. Users can subscribe on a monthly or annual basis.