computer hacked and locked by password- ransom!

[xyz123]

Hi- My elderly uncle got a call from someone claiming to be from microsoft. he somehow got duped into the call and the person at the other end used teamviewer to share the desktop and now has locked his computer. he now wants £100 for giving password.

i dont have PC with me but when now my uncle tries to start PC he is taken to a black screen asking for prompt with password. i maybe able to get him to send me a screenshot if it may help.

is there anything we can do other than reinstalling windows XP?

thanks

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Wipe and reinstall. There's no telling what else in the way of malware may have been installed.

 

[AdviserKulikov]

Wipe, reinstall, change all the passwords starting with email tied into account recovery. The risk that there have been keyloggers and other nasty bits is quite high.