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ACTIVE CRISIS

I shared my screen with a scammer — what do I do now?

You're in the right place. Stop the screen share right now if it is still active. No legitimate tech support company, bank, or government agency will ask you to share your screen — that request is always a scam.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Step 1 — End the screen share immediately

Do this now: If the screen share is still active, stop it immediately. Close the application you used to share (Zoom, Teams, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Google Meet, or any other). If you cannot find the stop button, disconnect from the internet — turn off your Wi-Fi or unplug your ethernet cable.

Screen sharing gives the scammer a live view of everything on your screen — your passwords as you type them, your bank balances, your emails, your files. Ending it now stops the live feed.

Important: Screen sharing is not the same as remote access. If the scammer asked you to install software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, a "support tool"), they may have had full control of your device — not just a view. If that happened, follow the steps on the remote access scam page as well.

Step 2 — Change every password the scammer may have seen

Do this now: Change the passwords for any accounts you accessed, typed into, or had open while the screen was shared. Start with your email and your bank. Do this from a different device if possible.

Think back through what was on your screen. Did you log in to anything? Did you open your email, your banking app, or any account? Did you type a password? The scammer could have recorded all of it.

Important: If you use the same password on multiple accounts, change all of them. Scammers test stolen credentials across email, banking, and shopping sites.

Step 3 — Call your bank if financial information was visible

Do this now: If your bank account, credit card details, or payment app was visible on screen, call your bank immediately. Tell them: "I shared my screen with a scammer and my account details may have been seen. I need to secure my account."

Use the number on the back of your bank card. Banks have fraud teams who handle exactly this situation. The faster you call, the better your chances of stopping any unauthorised transactions.

Step 4 — Check your device for any software the scammer installed

If the scammer asked you to download or install anything during the call, treat your device as potentially compromised. Check your recently installed programs or apps and remove anything you do not recognise.

Important: If you are not confident identifying what was installed, consider taking your device to a trusted technician. They can check for remote-access software or other tools the scammer may have left behind.

Run a full scan with your device's built-in security software (Windows Defender on Windows, or your Mac's built-in malware protection). Do not download additional "security tools" from the internet — scammers sometimes direct people to fake tools that are themselves malware.

Step 5 — Report it

Report the scammer to the authorities in your country.

You're safer once you've done this: Screen share ended, passwords changed for everything visible, bank called if financial details were on screen, device checked. You have taken the right steps.

What happens next

Monitor your accounts over the next few days. Check for any logins from unfamiliar locations or transactions you did not make.

This is not your fault. Screen-sharing scams typically start with a convincing story — a fake virus alert, a call from "Microsoft support," or a message claiming your account has been compromised. The urgency is manufactured to stop you thinking clearly.

Related situations

This page was last reviewed: June 26, 2026.
Crisis pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.