Recently, I almost succumbed to the notorious AMMYY scam.(If you haven't heard of it, just Google it!). However, I am left with a desktop icon that I cannot delete. I have tried the usual "Uninstall" but it stays there on my desktop.

[Yodder]

How can I get rid of this thing? I have done a virus scan on it and it seems safe enough. I am using Microsoft XP Home.

[Teddy_boy]

Reformat and reinstalll windows.

[rojash]

"AMMYY scam" is a generic term for conning people into putting remote desktop software on their machines and charging them. Sometimes (apart from conning you into paying fro something you don't need) it's harmless. Other times, they take take the opportunity to install trojans, keyloggers, etc.

As you've given no details of the particular scam that you were the victim of, it's difficult to give specific advice. For example what, exactly, is the icon that you can't remove?

[ojread2]

If you only almost fell for it, why is there an icon on your DT anyway?

[rojash]

I should point out, that generally the first thing that they get you to do is run a remote access program. Usually these are in themselves perfectly respectable products such as TeamViewer, LogMeIn, AMMYY. These are useful for tech support engineers who want to access your machine, or for users who want to access their machines remotely. The software itself is not malicious, the scam comes in when you allow a total stranger to use that software to access your machine. They may then do any of a number of things, such as:
Install fake antivirus software (so that you end up paying for removal)
Install a KeyLogger or other trojan
or simply get you to pay them for farting around doing nothing for 10 minutes.

[vignon]

Install Free " IObit uninstaller " Google it