This is for you if… you have tapped a link in a text, email, WhatsApp message or pop-up and now you are worried something bad might happen.
Not long ago, I was helping someone in Newmarket who had clicked a delivery text while they were waiting for a parcel. Nothing dramatic happened on screen, which almost made it worse, because they were left wondering whether the damage had already been done.
The good news is that clicking a scam link does not always mean your phone has been hacked. The important thing is what you do next.
1. Stop before entering anything else
If the link has opened a page asking for your password, bank details, card number, Apple ID, Google account, delivery fee or one-time code, do not fill it in. Close the page.
If you have already entered details, treat those details as exposed and move quickly through the steps below.
2. Change the password for the account involved
If the link pretended to be from a real company, change the password by going to the official website or app yourself. Do not use the link from the message.
If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there too. Reused passwords are one of the easiest ways a small mistake becomes a bigger problem.
3. Contact your bank if money or card details were involved
If you entered card details, bank login information, or approved anything in your banking app, contact your bank straight away using the number on the back of your card or inside the official banking app.
Do not wait to see what happens. Banks would much rather you report it early.
4. Check your phone calmly
On most modern phones, simply tapping a link is less dangerous than installing an app or typing in personal details. Still, it is sensible to:
- Delete the scam message.
- Update your phone if an update is waiting.
- Remove any app you installed because of the message.
- Run a security check on the account that was targeted.
- Watch for unusual emails, password reset messages or bank alerts.
5. Report the message
You can forward suspicious text messages to 7726, which helps mobile networks investigate scam messages. You can also report phishing to the National Cyber Security Centre at ncsc.gov.uk.
When to get help
If you are not sure what you entered, or you feel too stressed to check it properly, it is absolutely fine to ask for help. For people in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, my membership is for ongoing help and peace of mind. If you just need help with this one problem, you can book a one-off visit.