How To Protect Non-Native-English-Speaking Family Members From Scams
Practical ways to help a family member who uses English as a second language to recognise scams that exploit language barriers and unfamiliarity with local systems.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Scammers deliberately target people who are less confident in English or who are unfamiliar with how local banks, government agencies, and official processes work. Impersonation scams, immigration fraud, fake tax calls, and fake job agencies all disproportionately target non-native speakers. The most protective thing you can do is be a trusted point of contact and make official processes feel less intimidating.
Why scammers target non-native speakers
This isn't about intelligence or ability with English — it's about unfamiliarity with what's normal, and scammers deliberately exploit gaps in knowledge about how local institutions actually work. Someone who's still learning how tax offices, immigration authorities, or utility companies typically communicate has no reliable baseline to compare an unusual call or letter against, which makes an official-sounding threat about visa status or unpaid tax feel plausible even when fabricated. Scammers specifically target recent immigrants with these fear-based approaches because the stakes feel existential and the correct process is genuinely unfamiliar. Understanding this as a knowledge gap rather than a personal shortcoming helps frame any conversation with warmth, and makes clear the fault lies with the person exploiting the gap.
- Fake government or immigration calls exploit fear of authorities
- Tax and benefits phishing uses language that sounds bureaucratic and official
- Fake job agencies offer 'guaranteed work' and collect fees or documents
- Scammers may speak the victim's first language to build false trust
- Unfamiliarity with local scam-reporting processes makes recovery harder
Building a trusted-contact system
The single most valuable thing you can offer is simply being available and easy to reach when something feels official, urgent, or confusing — before a decision has to be made, not after. Make this explicit rather than assumed: tell your family member directly they can call or message you about anything that seems like a government letter, an immigration matter, or an urgent payment request, day or night, with no judgement attached. It helps to establish this as a two-way habit early, by occasionally reviewing real letters together so they build familiarity with what genuine correspondence from banks or immigration services looks like. Over time this turns you into a natural first call whenever something unfamiliar arrives.
- Agree that any official-sounding call or letter is shared with you before any action is taken
- Write down a short list of genuine official numbers (bank, HMRC, local council) in their language if possible
- Make it easy and non-judgmental to ask — not a last resort
- Explain how real agencies make contact in this country: letters, not cold calls demanding immediate payment
Language and document safety
Passports, visas, national insurance or social security numbers, and other identity documents are especially valuable to scammers targeting immigrants, both for identity fraud and, in the worst cases, for threats around immigration status used to extract payment. Keep original documents secure and only provide copies when genuinely necessary, ideally marked 'copy' if sent digitally, and be cautious of any request — however official-sounding — to send passport or visa details by text or unofficial channels. It's worth talking through a few key facts together in advance: what a genuine letter from the relevant authority actually looks like, and the plain fact that legitimate government agencies do not ask for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
- Passport and visa documents should never be shared via email or text
- Any job offer requesting documents before a formal employment contract should be verified carefully
- Be cautious of translation 'services' that ask to retain original documents
Conversation script
“If anyone ever calls you pretending to be from the government, the tax office, or immigration, the first thing to do is hang up and tell me — the real ones never demand immediate payment by phone.”
“I've written down the real phone numbers for your bank and the council. If anything official ever happens, call these numbers yourself rather than calling back a number someone gave you.”
“There's never any embarrassment in asking me to look at something first. These scams fool everyone — they're designed to.”
Frequently asked questions
How do I explain the difference between a real government call and a scam call?
Real government agencies — HMRC, the DWP, immigration authorities — do not cold-call demanding immediate payment. They send letters. A call threatening arrest, deportation, or immediate fines if you do not pay now is always a scam, regardless of how official the caller sounds.
What if they are embarrassed to tell me about a scam they have already engaged with?
Make it clear — repeatedly and in advance — that there is no shame in being targeted. Scammers specifically target people who are less likely to report. Reassure them that you will not be angry or disappointed, only relieved that they told you.