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ACTIVE CRISIS

I let a scammer into my computer — what do I do now?

You're in the right place. Disconnect from the internet right now if the session is still active. No legitimate tech support company, Microsoft, Apple, or your bank will ever call you unsolicited and ask to access your computer — that call is always a scam.

In an active crisis?

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

Step 1 — Cut the connection immediately

Do this now: If the scammer is still connected, disconnect your computer from the internet. Turn off Wi-Fi, unplug your ethernet cable, or turn on Airplane Mode. If you cannot find how to do this quickly, shut the computer down completely.

Remote-access tools like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and QuickSupport give the scammer full control of your device — they can see everything, open files, install software, and access your accounts. Cutting the connection stops them immediately.

Important: Do not call any number the scammer gave you. Do not visit any website they told you to go to. Do not let anyone else "fix" the problem unless it is a technician you found yourself.

Step 2 — Call your bank right now if financial accounts were open

Do this now: If your bank, PayPal, investment account, or any payment app was open or visible while the scammer had access, call your bank immediately. Use the number on the back of your bank card. Tell them: "A scammer had remote access to my computer and may have seen or accessed my accounts."

Banks can freeze your account, reverse recent transactions, and flag your account for unusual activity. The faster you call, the better your options.

Important: Some scammers transfer money during the remote session itself — while you are still on the call. Check your recent transactions as soon as you have called your bank.

Step 3 — Change your passwords from a different device

Do this now: Use a phone or a different computer to change the passwords for your email, bank, and any other account you had open or logged in to during the session. Do not use the compromised computer to change passwords until it has been checked.

Start with your email — if the scammer has access to your email, they can reset passwords on every other account. Then change your bank password. Then any other accounts.

Step 4 — Get the remote-access software removed

The scammer may have installed software that allows them to reconnect later, even after you ended the session. Do not assume the connection is gone just because the screen-sharing window closed.

Do this now: Check your installed programs (Windows: Settings → Apps; Mac: Applications folder) for any software you do not recognise or did not install yourself — especially AnyDesk, TeamViewer, UltraViewer, AmmyyAdmin, or any "support tool." Uninstall anything suspicious.

If you are not confident doing this yourself, take the computer to a trusted local technician and explain what happened. They can check for remote-access tools and malware. Do not take it to a shop the scammer recommended.

Important: Run a full scan with Windows Defender (Windows) or your built-in security tool (Mac). Do not download additional "security software" from the internet based on the scammer's advice — fake security tools are a common part of this scam.

Step 5 — Report it

Report the scammer to the authorities in your country. You do not need to have lost money to report.

You're safer once you've done this: Connection cut, bank called, passwords changed from a clean device, remote-access software removed. You have taken the most important steps.

What happens next

Monitor your accounts over the coming days for any transactions you did not make or logins from unfamiliar locations. If you find anything, contact your bank immediately.

This is not your fault. Tech-support scams are designed to look exactly like a real alert from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider. The fake pop-up, the urgent call, the professional manner — all of it is manufactured to make you act before you think.

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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.