JDA_Magazine_PaperTurn_Sept 2025 - Flipbook - Page 25
DC A F
STAY SAFE FROM SCAMS
Mira Goldberg writes:
Age UK gave a very
useful talk at JDA to help
Deaf people stay safe
from scams. Criminals
trick people by phone,
email, text, post and
even by ringing the
doorbell.
We learnt about credit cards and debit cards and
the pros and cons of using them. It’s important
that Deaf people do not fall into the credit card
trap and mount up debt. But a credit card can
also be helpful as it is easier to claim back money
on items bought by credit card and credit cards
have stronger protection against fraud.
Deaf people are often targeted as scam victims so
we must understand what to look out for, and how
to say no. For example, what should you do if a
builder knocks on your door, says you have a weak
roof that needs retiling and o昀昀ers to 昀椀x it for a
price? If you say yes, they will probably do a cheap
job and charge you a big fee. It is best to thank
them for telling you and say you will investigate
it further. You can say this in most situations.
Do not let them provide you with the solution
they are o昀昀ering — yes, they could be genuine,
but it is more likely they are scamming you. You
can protect yourself by seeking professional
guidance or telling a JDA Support Worker.
The most common scam we all face is by SMS.
People text you and pretend to be from large
organisations like Royal Mail, DWP (Department for
Work and Pensions) or HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue
and Customs). It can feel scary receiving texts like
this — they are very believable, triggering us to reply
instantly or make payment without questions.
The easiest way to detect if one is fake is to check
the title and phone number it is coming from. If it is
from a mobile number or email address that does
not match the company’s website, it is probably fake.
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JDATogether — Issue 50 — April 2025
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If it is real, usually a company will have their name
at the top of the SMS. Check that the name and
email address are spelt correctly and that the
number is not just someone’s mobile. If in doubt,
check with JDA.
You might receive a letter telling you about a 昀椀ne or
asking you to pay money. They can look very real!
Unfortunately, a lot of hearing and Deaf people
fall into the trap, pay and lose their money to
fraudsters. Fortunately, we have JDA to turn to.
If you receive a letter (or SMS, WhatsApp or
email) asking you for money, show it to a JDA
Support Worker — Jessica, Danielle, Lisa, Janine
or Mira. They will help you to check and make
sure you don’t get scammed.
We also learnt that scammers don’t only hack your
bank account and take your money, some also take
over your identity. They gradually collect your details
— such as your full name, date of birth, birthplace,
your ID, your bank, and so on. Then, once they
have all this information about you, the scammers
can pretend they are you and open bank accounts
to launder money or commit crimes in your name,
preying on other victims, including people you know.
This was really shocking and scary for us all!
The lesson is — do not share your personal
information with anyone unless you are
certain it is safe to do so.
Many of us have been victims of scams in the past.
We told our stories to the group. It was good to
see that several of us now understand what to
look out for and how to say no.
If you are concerned about any
personal or money issue, please
talk to JDA. You can trust us — we
are always here to support you,
con昀椀dentially. Arrange a private
chat with our sta昀昀.
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