Reviewed by Ivan Yurynts, IT Tech LLC
Practical guidance based on local on-site repair and support work.
End the connection without following more instructions
Disconnect the computer from Wi-Fi or Ethernet, end the call, and do not pay an additional “refund” or “security” charge. Use another known-clean device for urgent account activity.
Contact financial institutions directly
If money, banking access, cards, or identity information were involved, use the number on the card or an official statement. A computer technician can secure the device but cannot reverse a bank transfer or replace a fraud report.
Secure email before less important accounts
Email often controls password resets for everything else. Change passwords from a clean device, review recovery information and forwarding, sign out unknown sessions, and enable multi-factor authentication.
Inspect the computer before trusting it again
Remote-control tools, startup items, browser extensions, downloaded files, user accounts, and security settings should be reviewed. Depending on the evidence and risk, cleanup or a verified reinstall may be appropriate.
Sources and further reading
Provider features and policies can change. These primary sources were reviewed for this guide.
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