Important Security Warning – Please be vigilant

Hunnie1977

Subject: Important Security Warning – Please be vigilant

Hi everyone,

I am writing this to share a serious experience I have just been through, in the hope that it prevents anyone else from falling victim to the same thing.

Over the last 48 hours, I was targeted by what I can only describe as a highly sophisticated technical scam. Through manipulation and social engineering, the perpetrators tricked me into granting them elevated administrative permissions on my personal mobile device.

Once they had this access, they were effectively able to take full control of the phone remotely. They could view my screen, navigate through my system, and access applications and data as if they were me. It was an incredibly unsettling experience to realise what was happening.

To resolve this, I had to perform a deep clean of my device and remove every piece of software that held these high-level permissions. While I have now removed the threat and secured the phone, the process was difficult and very stressful.

It has left me looking for a permanent solution to ensure this can never happen again. I am looking for recommendations from anyone with technical knowledge regarding security.

Specifically:Does anyone know of reliable software or an application available for Samsung devices (phone and tablet) that is designed specifically to detect and block this kind of "remote administration" spyware? Ideally something that is either free or low cost, which will actively alert me if anything tries to gain this level of access again in the future.

I want to ensure I have the best possible protection in place moving forward.

Please be very careful out there. These actors are very convincing and know exactly how to talk you into giving them access.

Best regards,

Ayr_Rage

Time to watch a few episodes of the BBC series Scam Interceptors.

Never download apps or programs that allow remote access unless you have called a genuine company or friend to help you.

All Android devices should give you plenty of warnings about allowing access within apps as long as your device is up to date.

Hunnie1977

Thanks very much for the advice. I will definitely watch Scam Interceptors — sounds exactly what I need right now.You are absolutely right about remote access. Looking back, that is exactly where I went wrong. I had no idea what I was agreeing to when I granted those permissions, and once I did, they were in complete control.I have learned the hard way now — I will never allow any access like that again unless I have verified exactly who I am dealing with first. And yes, I have made sure everything on my phone and tablet is fully updated now so I get every warning available. Much appreciated.

MattMattMattUK

There is not really a technical solution to this. If the user is willing to install random apps and grant permissions and access then they would also bypass security if told to, so no software solution will solve the problem because the problem is the user. The only real protection is to apply common sense.

flaneurs_lobster

Would be useful if you could recount the initial contact method and what was it that made this approach seem plausible?

Hunnie1977

Thanks both for the responses.

I understand the point about "common sense", but I can assure you these people are professional actors. They do not sound like scammers — they sound like highly trained bank managers.

To answer exactly how they pulled it off:

They called claiming to be from the Fraud Team at my Credit Card Provider.

They opened the call by saying:

"We are calling because we have detected someone

in another country

actively trying to use your credit card details and access your online accounts right now."

They quoted my full name, address, and card numbers perfectly to prove they were legitimate.

They told me:

"We have blocked the transaction for now, but

they have your login details

. We need to secure your device so they cannot get in again."

They did not say "we want to control your phone".They said:

"We need to install our

security shield

to lock them out and re‑register your device as 'Trusted' so your accounts work again."

It was presented entirely as them fighting someone else who had hacked me, not them hacking me.

I thought I was helping the bank catch the thief. In reality, I was letting the thief inside the door.

That is why it felt plausible. They convinced me I was the victim of a hack, and they were the rescue team.

I have now secured everything, but it was a very hard lesson to learn.

Grumpy_chap

Have you notified all your card and online accounts directly and blocked them?

MattMattMattUK

Textbook scam call, nothing special about that, applying software to a user issue will not fix that.

Hunnie1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025930#Comment_82025930

yes now waiting for new cards

RAS

Also watch Scammer Payback. American but they have worked with Jim Browning and Pleasant Green, who are Brits and had a meet in London last year.

oldernonethewiser

Unfortunate that this has happened to you but as said no software will protect the weakest link in the chain - the human.

Your credit cards have been used fraudulently so we need access to your phone - big red flag.

"I understand the point about "common sense", but I can assure you
these people are professional actors. They do not sound like scammers —
they sound like highly trained bank managers."

Bank managers don't phone customers about fraud.

Definitely do some research about scams.