Protecting ESL speakers against scams

If English is your second language, you’re a prime target for scammers, according to a recent survey by the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign from UK Finance. 

ESL and APP fraud

Three quarters (73%) of those who speak English as a second language (ESL) said criminals tried to trick them into sharing personal or financial information this year. In the first half of 2024 alone, over £570m was lost to fraud.

That’s why the Take Five campaign is urging ESL speakers to take a moment to stop and think before handing over any cash or sensitive details (e.g. your date of birth, bank account details or passwords) especially on social media.

Most people surveyed (52%) didn’t know that social media is a common platform for criminals to pull the wool over their victims’ eyes.

It’s a worry, especially as three quarters (72%) of all authorised push payment (APP) fraud – when someone tricks you by pretending to be someone else – happen online.

Stop, challenge, protect

Paul Maskall from Take Five to Stop Fraud is urging ESL speakers and their loved ones to follow the campaign’s advice: stop, challenge and protect.

• Stop: Take a moment before making any decisions.
• Challenge: Question whether the request is genuine. Speak to someone you trust if you’re not sure.
• Protect: If you suspect you’ve been scammed, contact your bank right away and report to Action Fraud.

Maskall says:

“Fraud causes serious harm to society and severe financial and psychological harm to victims. It’s important that everyone knows the steps to take to protect themselves from these awful crimes.”

Stay safe from scammers

Fortunately, you can stay one step ahead of scammers. Read more about spotting online scams or check out our guide about common types of fraud, including what to do if you think you've been scammed.

You can also find out more about how to stay safe from scams at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.