FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights police are warning residents about a computer pop-up scam after the department received a report on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, that an elderly victim lost $90,000 in what authorities described as “computer pop-up fraud.”
According to the Fairview Heights Police Department, the victim received a pop-up alert on a desktop computer claiming the device had been compromised. Police said the victim was then contacted by individuals posing as Microsoft representatives who claimed they would help fix the computer and instructed the victim to transfer funds to “protect” the money. The funds were ultimately transferred to an account believed to be controlled by the scammer, police said.
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“Scams like this are increasingly common and can look very convincing,” the department said in a public alert. “Please remember: legitimate companies will not contact you unsolicited, demand money transfers, or ask for remote access to your computer.”
Police urged residents not to click on suspicious pop-ups or links, to avoid providing personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, and not to allow unknown individuals remote access to their devices. The department also advised people not to move or “secure” money at someone else’s direction and to run antivirus and security scans using trusted software.
“If you believe you are being targeted by a scam, disconnect your device from the internet and contact your local police department immediately,” the department said. “Staying alert can prevent devastating financial loss.”
