Recognize the warning signs
- Real browser or security alerts do not normally tell you to call a random toll-free number.
- Countdowns, loud alarms, full-screen warnings, and claims that your bank account is already exposed are pressure tactics.
- A web page cannot reliably scan the whole computer just because it is open.
Close it safely
- Try closing the tab or browser. If it refuses, use Task Manager on Windows or Force Quit on a Mac.
- Disconnect from the internet if someone is already controlling the computer.
- Reopen the browser without restoring the previous session, then clear the suspicious site data and notifications.
Check what happened next
- Run the built-in security scan and review recently installed apps and browser extensions.
- If you called, paid, shared a password, or granted remote access, contact your bank and change important passwords from a clean device.
- Write down the phone number, payment method, and actions taken so a trusted helper can respond accurately.
Stop guessing when the problem keeps coming back
Get immediate help if someone connected remotely, you installed software, entered card details, or the warning returns after the browser is closed.