Florida Man Almost Falls for Fake Microsoft Scam and Warns Others to Not Fall Victim

A North Fort Myers Florida man almost fell victim to a fake Microsoft scam, and shares his experience with WINK News. Find out the alarming scare tactics that scammers are using to scare innocent victims into handing over their money.

Steve Seifert; credit: WINK News

WINK News reporter Ryan Kruger reported that Florida residents lost about 1.5 billion dollars to online scams in 2025, according to the FBI. Cyber crooks are using fake and malicious websites and pop-ups to fool victims into thinking they have committed a crime before asking for money.

Ryan Kruger reported that 3,000 people fell victim to scams every day in the U.S. in 2025, with Florida having the 3rd highest losses after (#2) Texas and (#1) California.

A Florida Man Receives a Pop-up Warning on his Computer

Local Fort Myers resident Steve Seifert told WINK News that he was online when he suddenly received a pop-up on his computer, with a warning that got his attention.

The fake Microsoft warning read:

"Microsoft has observed an illegal function on your computer. Call Microsoft Help to get it taken care of" with a phone number that would seemingly connect Seifert to Microsoft technical support.

Once on the phone, Seifert said that the scammer at the phone number informed him that "his credit cards had been used to try to buy illegal material online and that he also tried to place bets." 

Seifert was concerned about the allegations, so he was listening carefully to what the person was telling him. He continued to listen to the scammer until the person switched topics and started to ask him about his bank account information. At that point, Seifert realized that he was dealing with a scammer, and at that point, he hung up the phone. 

First, Steve Siefert tried to contact the FBI, but could not reach them.

Steve then calls WINK News to report what had happened so others can be aware of the scare tactics scammers are using. He also shared with WINK News reporter Ryan Kruger that one of his neighbors lost more than $2,000 to the same type of scam.

Seifert says, "I know better, and they almost caught me."

Ryan Kruger reminds the public that if anyone calls you claiming to be from the government or a financial institution, get off the phone, look up the legitimate number for the institution, and call the trusted number to make sure you aren't talking to a scammer.

YouTube Video: "North Fort Myers man nearly fell victim to growing scam flagged by FBI"

Source: WINK News

Comment on YouTube Video

User @ShamegaJ wrote the following comments in response to the WINK News video:

"These are criminals targeting people. Sometimes, they have lists of vulnerable people, scripts of what to say, and surveillance equipment to make this scam seem real. They are gangstalkers who are organized. They use these tactics to get money and status."

Alabama Power Fails to Properly Dispose of Toxic Coal Ash

 

According to Mobile Baykeeper, there are "more than 52 illegal and ongoing groundwater violations" in the state of Alabama due to improper storage of coal ash in pits across the state. These coal ash sites can be seen on this interactive map. 

What Causes Toxic Coal Ash?

Coal-burning power plants end up with a waste byproduct after their normal processes of creating energy, and they must do something with this toxic coal ash. Oftentimes, this waste is mixed with water and dumped into a massive pond or pit near the plant. This coal ash contains many heavy metals that are very dangerous to humans, including Arsenic, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, and Selenium. The full dangers of toxic coal ash was evidenced when 11 workers died and hundreds of people suffered serious illnesses in Kingston, Tennessee after the nation's largest spill in Tennessee in 2008. Workers involved with the cleanup became seriously ill. This toxic coal ash spill resulted in 40 damaged or destroyed homes, and up to $3 billion USD in damage, not to mention the hazardous environmental impact, that can affect industries that rely on clean water.

Watch the YouTube video below:

The Toxic Coal Ash Problem in Alabama

The most egregious situation regarding coal ash violations is going on at Plant Barry, owned by Alabama Power. Plant Bary is surrounded on three sides by the Mobile River. There are 21 million tons of toxic coal ash in a 600-acre unlined pit. The toxic chemicals from this toxic ash pit will contaminate groundwater and the Mobile River. The toxic coal ash pit at Plant Barry is only 1 of 6 in the state of Alabama.

Cap-in-Place Doesn't Work

Alabama Power plans to "cap-in-place" as a solution to this coal ash problem in Alabama. Cap-in-place refers to putting a liner over a toxic coal ash pit, while leaving it unlined on the bottom. This poor remedy was done in Gadsden, Alabama in 2018, and the results were horrifying. In 2019, officials found 100 times the allowable limit for arsenic in local groundwater, and over 50% over the limit for radium in the groundwater affected by the Gadsden cap-in-place, which clearly makes the situation.

The Solution to the Toxic Coal Ash Problem in Alabama

There is a solution that is estimated to be less expensive and better than Alabama Power's solution to cap-in-place. The solution is to remove the toxic coal ash away from an area that is susceptible to hurricanes, and vulnerable communities, where the toxic coal ash can contaminate the local groundwater.

There are great examples of lined landfills that are better for the environment, that can be found in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

More information on this issue can be found here.

Disclaimer: This blog is not affiliated or paid by anyone to write this post.