After a Scam
You made it. You're in the right place.
Take a breath. This was not your fault, and it is fixable. Here is exactly what to do, in order.
You do not have to do this alone.
Call your bank first. Then call me at (512) 893-7774, and we will go through everything else on this page together.
What to do after an online scam
Tell your bank or credit union
Call them first, before anything else. Tell them what happened. You did the right thing by acting fast, and they handle this more often than you would think.
If anyone had control of your screen, shut the computer down
Leave it off, and use your phone or another device for everything else. When it is time to check the computer, we will turn it back on together.
Change your most important passwords, email first
Do it from a different device, like your phone or a family member's computer. Email first, because whoever controls your email can reset everything else.
Freeze your credit with all three bureaus
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It is free, it takes a few minutes each, and it stops anyone from opening credit in your name.
Report it
ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov, and the DOJ Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311. Reporting helps you, and it helps catch them.
Have the computer professionally checked
So you know the scammer is really gone, not just quiet. That is exactly what I do, while you watch every step.
Call Nicholas Now: (512) 893-7774
Read the FTC's guidance on tech support scams and what to do next.
How you know it's really me
A lighthouse never comes to you. Scammers call you first. I never will.
- When you need me, you call the number on this site, and it is me who answers
- You approve every remote session and watch everything I do
- I will never ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or your banking password
- If someone claiming to be me contacts you, hang up and call (512) 893-7774
What does this cost?
The phone call costs nothing. We figure out together what happened and what still needs doing. If the computer needs hands-on cleanup after that, I tell you what it costs before I touch anything. For members, hands-on cleanup uses any included time first. After that, your plan's hourly rate applies.
Were you given my card? You are in the right place.
Banks and credit unions send people to me after a scam because checking the computer and securing the accounts is the part they cannot do from the branch. I am Nicholas. It is just me here, and I have helped a lot of people through exactly the day you are having.
We will go at your pace, and you will watch everything I do.
Print this checklist: After a Scam, The First 24 Hours (PDF)
Questions people ask right after.
Should I call you or my bank first?
Your bank, if any money or card details moved. They own that window. Then call me, and we will go through everything else together.
Do I need to unplug the computer?
If anyone had control of your screen, shut the computer down and leave it off. Use your phone for everything else until we talk, and we will turn it back on together.
Can you tell if they are still inside?
That is what the first call is for. We look together at what they touched and what they still have access to, and then we close the door behind them.