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Give remote help only on calls your relative starts
Why it matters: Remote-access apps are how tech support scammers take over computers and bank accounts. One simple rule, that only the family helper ever sees the screen and only on a call your relative starts, gets them help without leaving that door open.
On your path if you picked “An older parent or relative I help” for “Who's at home?”.
Best after: Start with a conversation and agree the family rules
Do it
- Agree on the rule: you only help when they call you, and anyone else who asks to see or control their screen is a scammer, whoever they say they are.
- Use screen sharing built into a video call between the two of you, such as FaceTime screen sharing between Apple devices, rather than installing a remote-access app.
- If you do need a remote-access app, install it yourself together, use it only for sessions they start, and remove it when you're done.
- Check their phone and computer for remote-access apps they don't recognize, and uninstall them.
- If a scammer has already had access, disconnect the computer from the internet, call the bank on the number on their card, and change passwords from a different device.
Check it worked: When you help your relative with their phone or computer from afar, it's through screen sharing on a call they start with you; they know that anyone else asking for remote access is a scammer; and no leftover remote-access apps remain on their devices.
Simply put
It's like only opening the front door to family who rang ahead. If your relative knows the only person who ever sees their screen is you, on a call they started, anyone else asking is a scammer.
In detail
Tech support scams often hand off to a fake bank or government 'fraud department' once they're on the computer, so a remote session left open can lead to the safe-account scam. Removing remote-access tools after each use means a scammer has nothing to reuse.
Points toward the Long View: help from family that never leaves a remote-access door open for anyone else.