What to do if you gave remote access
Remote access means someone could see and control your device, including banking. Treat your accounts as exposed.
Quick answer
Remote access means someone could see and control your device, including banking. Treat your accounts as exposed.
- Disconnect the device from the internet now
- Uninstall any remote-access software
- Change passwords from a different, trusted device
- Contact your bank
Do this now
Contact your bank urgently - they may need to secure your accounts.
Understanding what happened
Giving someone remote access - usually by installing a tool like a remote-desktop or 'support' app and reading them a code - lets them see and control your device as if they were sitting in front of it. While connected, they can open your banking, move money, change settings, and install more software.
These scams are built around urgency and authority: a 'bank', 'telecom', or 'Microsoft' agent says there's a problem only they can fix. Some keep you talking while they work in the background, or blank your screen so you can't see what they're doing.
The priority is to cut the connection and lock them out. Disconnecting from the internet, uninstalling the tool, and changing key passwords from a separate device usually ends their access - and contacting your bank quickly limits any financial damage. The steps below do this in a safe order.
First 5 minutes
- Disconnect the device from the internet now
- Uninstall any remote-access software
- Change passwords from a different, trusted device
- Contact your bank
First 24 hours
- Run a full security scan
- Review accounts for changes or transactions
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Report the incident
What not to do
- Do not pay anyone who promises to recover your money for an upfront fee
- Do not act on follow-up messages claiming to be the fraud team
- Do not delete evidence before saving it
Evidence to save
- Screenshots of the message and sender details
- Phone numbers, usernames, links, and account or wallet addresses
- Transaction references, receipts, and amounts
How to report
Report through official channels for your area.
Find official reporting links for your country in the reporting directory.
- Do not use phone numbers or links from the suspicious message - look up the official ones yourself.
- Report quickly if money was sent or ID documents were shared; speed improves your options.
- Keep your evidence - see how to save scam evidence.
Beware of recovery scams: no legitimate service guarantees getting your money back for an upfront fee.
This is general safety information, not legal, financial, or cybersecurity incident-response advice.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly should I act?
As soon as possible. Fast action - especially contacting your bank - gives the best chance of limiting harm or stopping a payment.
Will I get my money back?
Sometimes, if you act quickly, but there is no guarantee. Be very cautious of anyone who promises guaranteed recovery for an upfront fee - that is a recovery scam.