Scam Alert

I frequently write about the many scams going around, and what not to do, in order to avoid them. One thing I frequently say is to NEVER let anyone have access to your computer that isn’t sprung from your loins, or you are not sleeping with. That said, sometimes access is gained in very subtle, and sneaky ways.
 
I heard from a reader that told me of his experience, involving his wife buying something off Facebook. (Don’t get me started on my feelings about Facebook). There was a problem with the item and she attempted to return it. In doing so, the seller stated she needed to download something in order to receive her refund. In doing so, the person took control of her computer and her PayPal account, in addition to her bank account. The nightmare had begun. She has since contacted her bank, and PayPal, and whatever others, and is in the process of getting new accounts. But the work involved in recovering from a breach like that is no small matter.
 
This seems an extraordinarily elaborate trap; to create a website and sell things, and then ship intentionally wrong things to get the customer to contact you so they can take over your computer? Seriously, that’s a lot of work, why not just actually WORK to earn money. At any rate, that’s what happened. Lesson learned, and for all of us. Sometimes, the act of tricking someone into giving access to their computer can be extremely subtle. Being aware is great. Also, be suspicious, and be reluctant to share your info.
 
Here’s what the actual account of the incident is:
Some weeks ago ‘my wife’ ordered a clothing item from a so called company that advertised on Facebook. When the item arrived it was not what she had ordered at $50+. Instead it was some cheap item so she went online to the company name that was on the package. She called the customer service number and connected with a guy who said she had to download something called Supremo for him to be able to give her a credit. Unfortunately she went along and downloaded it. Immediately after she did the guy took control of her mouse cursor and started taking over her laptop, so she shut it down. When she later started her computer again and checked PayPal she found out that the scammer had ordered things from eBay and via PayPal had charged her bank account and also that the scammer still could take control of her computer.

I deleted supremo.exe from the download folder but that did no change, the fact that he still could take control. I found that Supremo was among the hidden taskbar icons on the right bottom of the screen. I closed it several times but it came back immediately.  After many hours of research and effort I found that Supremo.exe was sitting among hidden small programs that I could see, and I deleted it via the Task Manager (Ctrl Alt Delete).

Supremo is a Remote Desktop program that, when you download it, allows someone with a Supremo account to control your computer.

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