Allowed remote access to scammer

This is without a doubt a scam. You did right in stopping the cheque.

I would advise changing all of your passwords immediately, especially payment details etc. I would also do a full system re-install just to be on the safe side, this will remove anything they may have left behind in order to fleece you even more. Those who have had access to your computer now have all of your personal data, who knows what they have/haven't seen. It's best to be on the safe side!

Follow the steps provided above (change emails, passwords) and re-install your system using the instructions below.

First of all, save all the files you want to keep (photos, documents etc.) on a separate drive or in the cloud. Make sure you are connected to the Internet. After that, follow these steps:

1. Restart your Mac. Once it restarts and the grey screen appears, press and hold the Command and R keys.
2. Select Disk Utility and click Continue.
3. Select your startup disk on the left and click the Erase tab.
4. Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the Format menu, enter a name, and then click Erase.
5. Select Reinstall OS X, click Continue, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

I hope you have a backup made before you allowed the scammer access. Besides getting $350 and looking over your computer for personal information it is possible that malware was installed on your computer.

Definitely erase your hard drive as D.Cohen recommends. If you have been backing up your computer it should be safe to use the Setup Assistant to reinstall your software and user directory if the backup is prior to the intrusion or if you can choose a TimeMachine backup point prior to the intrusion.

Besides changing your computer related passwords you also need to consider what personal information is on your computer and take steps. At the very least I'd seriously consider signing up with a reputable credit check company and keep track for the next several months. (Consider contacting your credit card companies and this might be offered free of charge.)

What version Mac OS are you using? If the computer originally came with OS 10.7 or higher and you cannot boot with command R use command option R to Internet recovery boot. If it came with an OS install disc you can use that. Note, you have to hold the command R or command option R you can't just type and release.

hanks...that's the issue...it is the newer version....By the way, I just switched to Mac and I had heard that they are virtually immune from issues like this...guess that is wrong...maybe just not prone to viruses... Thanks again for you input...

No computer is immune to user error. It's like the Nigerian prince email scam. It has nothing to do with the computer being used.

Other examples are the Internal Revenue Service scam over the tellerphone or the guy on the street corner wanting to sell you a Rolex watch for $50. . The entire responsibility rests on the user's shoulders, not the device used.

First rule of computing: have your first cup of coffee in the morning before surfing the internet. 🙂