Remote Access Scam Cleanup
If you let someone control your device, disconnect, secure your money, and clean up safely.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Disconnect the device from the internet (Wi-Fi/ethernet)
- End the remote session and uninstall the remote-access software
- From a different, trusted device, change your banking password
First 24 hours
- Contact your bank about any transactions made during the session
- Change all important passwords from a clean device and enable 2FA
- Run a full security scan; consider professional help or a device reset
Contact your bank or payment provider
- Report any payments and ask about recall and monitoring
- Consider a new card/account if details were exposed
Evidence to preserve
- Note the software name and any access codes you shared
- Record what the scammer accessed and any transactions
Secure your accounts and devices
- Reset passwords from a clean device
- Enable app-based 2FA
- Check for new email rules, forwarding, or connected apps
- Remove unfamiliar software and consider a full device reset
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
Granting remote access lets a scammer see and control your device — potentially capturing passwords, reading codes, and moving money while you watch. If this happened, act quickly to cut their access and secure your finances.
Disconnect the device immediately and do your banking and password changes from a separate, clean device. Then thoroughly clean the affected device — removing the remote software, scanning for malware, and resetting it if you're unsure it's clean.
Frequently asked questions
Is my device safe to use again?
Not until it's cleaned. Uninstall the remote-access tool, run a full security scan, and if you can't be certain it's clean, back up your data and perform a full reset. Do banking from a different device meanwhile.