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
It is not about intelligence — it is about unfamiliarity with what is normal. Scammers exploit gaps in knowledge about how local systems work.
- 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
Being available as a sounding board for anything that feels official or urgent is the most valuable thing you can offer.
- 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
Documents and identity information are especially valuable to scammers targeting immigrants and non-citizens.
- 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.