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.
“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.”…