A local person was the victim of a scam. It happened this week.
By accident, they let a stranger take control of their computer over the internet.
This can happen to anyone. It happens more than people think. Here's what you need to know, in plain English.
What is a "remote access scam"?
It's when someone tricks you into letting them control your computer from far away. Sometimes they're on the other side of the world.
They usually pretend to be someone you trust, like:
- Your bank
- Inland Revenue (IRD)
- NZTA (saying you have a fine to pay)
- A "computer security" company
- Tech support
They call you, text you, or email you. They say something scary, like "there's a virus on your computer" or "we saw a strange payment." Then they ask you to download an app so they can "help" you.
That app is the trick. Once you install it, they can control your whole screen — just like they're sitting right in front of your computer.
Why this is so dangerous
Once someone has control of your computer, here's what they can do:
- Watch your screen. Anytime your computer is on and online, they can see everything — even while you're just checking Facebook.
- Find your saved passwords. If you're logged into internet banking, they might be able to move your money to another account.
- Get into Trade Me. They can list your things for sale and have buyers pay money into a bank account that isn't yours — using your good name to trick people.
- Get into your email — and hide it. This is the sneaky part. They set up a secret rule in your email. Your bank's emails and Trade Me's emails still arrive, but the secret rule quietly moves them into a folder you never check. So you don't notice anything is wrong until it's too late.
New Zealand's cyber security agency warns about exactly this: if someone calls about your bank or a "computer problem" and asks you to install remote access software or log into your bank account, that's a big red flag. A real company will never ask you to do that out of nowhere.
What we did to fix the computer
When we got the call, here's what our team did:
- Found programs that had been secretly allowed to run without the owner knowing
- Removed the remote access apps that shouldn't have been there
- Cleared out leftover files from the install
- Ran full scans to check for anything else hidden
- Checked for anything set up to let someone sneak back in later
If you think this has happened to you — act fast
- Get offline right now. Turn off your Wi-Fi, unplug the internet cable, or just turn the computer off. This stops anyone watching or controlling it.
- Use a different device. Grab your phone on mobile data instead. Don't use the computer that might still be compromised.
- Call your bank straight away. Ask them to freeze your account or watch for anything strange.
- Change your passwords. Start with banking, email, and Trade Me — do this from your safe device, not the computer.
- Check your email rules. Look for anything you didn't set up yourself, and delete it.
- Call a trusted computer professional to properly check and clean the device before you use it again.
Who to call in New Zealand
- Lost money, or worried about your bank account: Call your bank first — then NZ Police on 105 (or 105.police.govt.nz)
- Someone got into your device or accounts: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) — ncsc.govt.nz/report or 0800 114 115
- General scam help: Netsafe — netsafe.org.nz or 0508 638 723
- Scam texts: Forward them free to 7726
- In immediate danger: Call 111
How to stay safe
- A real bank, IRD, or NZTA will never call you out of nowhere and ask you to install software or read out a bank code.
- If you get a call like this, hang up. Then call the organisation yourself, using the number on their website or the back of your card — not a number they gave you.
- Never install remote access software just because someone on the phone told you to.
- If you're ever unsure, stop, disconnect, and call someone you trust — like us — before doing anything else.