I received an email with an iOS system message via Gmail is this a scam?

Scam.

Your iPhone includes a built-in anti-malware scanner, and a built-in malware removal tool, among other defenses.

Probably an advertisement for some junk app. Quite possibly an advert for a VPN app, but there are other sketchy apps around beyond the too-often sketchy add-on VPN apps that get these spammed advertisements.

Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

Mark these as scams in gmail, or whatever, delete, and move on.

Springchickens wrote:

Cheers, and thank u

does anyone know where to find

Your iPhone includes a built-in anti-malware scanner, and a built-in malware removal tool, among other defenses.

and how to set up

have a g'day

The anti-malware is built in, automatic, self-administering, enabled by default, and with no means to disable.

If you want technical details about this and related: Apple Platform Security - Apple Support

The sketchy apps and the malware nowadays is mostly phishing, spear phishing, scams, advertisements, add-on security products designed to collect metadata for re-sale, and such. Re-used or weak passwords or no two-factor enabled cause issues, too. No backups, etc.

Anything you’re reading using “hacker” or “virus” should be assumed an advertisement or entertainment, until proven otherwise, too.

Sure, some of the old classic malware stuff is still around, but it’s rare and very expensive (one bunch is recently offering five million dollars per exploit, IIRC), and all available information indicates that malware is very much targeted.

Want to check your personal safety and security: Personal Safety User Guide - Apple Support