Why format immediately and possibly lose important data, pictures etc? Just unplug your wifi router or block the laptop from accessing the internet via wifi router settings and turn on your laptop and see what can be salvaged or fixed. It could have been one of those scams where they pretended to do something on the laptop and then try to convince the victim to go and buy gift cards. Laptop does not have access to the internet so not much can happen. Once important things are saved and determined to not be infected with any virus then format the hard drive or just replace the storage unit from the laptop.
For sure though, change all your passwords for all the accounts you have.
Why format immediately and possibly lose important data, pictures etc? Just unplug your wifi router or block the laptop from accessing the internet via wifi router settings and turn on your laptop and see what can be salvaged or fixed. It could have been one of those scams where they pretended to do something on the laptop and then try to convince the victim to go and buy gift cards. Laptop does not have access to the internet so not much can happen. Once important things are saved and determined to not be infected with any virus then format the hard drive or just replace the storage unit from the laptop.
For sure though, change all your passwords for all the accounts you have.