I clicked a scam link. What now?
This happens to everyone, and speed matters more than embarrassment. Work through the steps in order.
1. If you entered banking or card details: call the bank now
Call your bank's blocking line immediately. The bank can freeze the card and watch for transfers. If you already sent money, ask about a payment recall. The sooner you call, the better the chance of stopping it.
2. If you only clicked but entered nothing
Opening a link by itself rarely does harm on an updated device. The danger is the fake page and what you type into it. Close the page and delete the message.
3. Change the passwords you gave away
Change the password on the real service and everywhere you reused it. Turn on two-factor authentication or a passkey on your most important accounts, starting with email.
4. If you installed something
Uninstall it and run a security scan. If the app asked for accessibility or screen-sharing permissions, treat your banking credentials as compromised and call the bank.
5. Report it
File a police report at poliisi.fi if you lost money or gave away banking details. Report the message to the organisation it impersonated. Reports help get fake pages shut down.
6. Watch for the follow-up
Once scammers know you click, more attempts follow, sometimes dressed as your bank's fraud department. Stay sceptical of every unexpected message in the coming weeks.
Sharpen your eye: the five-step checklist · the free scam quiz