GULF SHORES — A loud alert blared from a Gulf Shores resident's computer prompting her to call a number listed on the screen. A few months later, over $300,000 of her savings are gone.

Kim Kichler shared her experience as a victim of a cyber-scam at the recent Gulf Shores fraud prevention seminar, which is held with the purpose to educate residents on the newest scams and how to stop them before they occur.

Kichler said she received a notification one day that something was wrong with her Microsoft account and a number was listed for contact. The person on the phone explained she would need to consult her bank and asked her which one she used. Once she provided the information, the person on the phone gave her another number to call for her bank.

When she called this number, the person on the phone claimed to work for her bank. For months, money transfers, bitcoin purchases and forced secrecy left Kichler out of $327,400.

Kichler's case is ongoing, and Gulf Shores Police Department is working to take proper action against the scammers.

"It's a scam, and I hate that I went through it. Learned a lot from it, I know more about computers now," she said. "And I know that I'll never call a phone number on a computer again."

Over 50 people were in attendance for second-annual seminar. Throughout the event, speakers shared information surrounding different forms of fraud.

Lunch was provided, and in between speakers, attendees could walk around the Gulf Shores Activity Center, where the event was held, and visit with banks, health care establishments and other businesses often impacted by scams and frauds.

After Kichler spoke a few attendees shared their stories of how they've been victims of fraud. Everyone has learned the same lesson for how to deal with spam calls; don't answer them or hang up.

Jimmy Thomas in the Southern District of Alabama with the U.S. Department of Justice, spoke at the event and presented data on U.S. crime statistics.

He said some of the most common forms of fraud, according to the FBIs 2024 crime report, were government impersonation, fake tech support or confidence/romance based.

Financial abusers can reach out via mail, computer, phone, tv, radio and in person.

Thomas recommended changing your password often and always report instances of fraud. He suggested calling Adult Protective Services at their adult abuse hotline at 1-800-458-7214 or visiting elderjustice.gov to report abuse.

A speaker from Gulf Shores Police Department (GSPD) gave tips on how to respond to potential scams and how to pick up on some common ones lately.

He said if a resident gets a call from GSPD saying there is a warrant for their arrest and they must buy $5,000 worth of gift cards to settle it, do not take it seriously as the department does not handle business that way. If you are unsure if you have an unsettled warrant, he recommended calling the non-emergency number for GSPD.

Many times, fraudulent money is requested in purchases of bitcoin, cryptocurrency, gift cards or cash. The GSPD speaker said if someone is asking for payment this way, be sure to verify the source by calling other contacts for businesses or looking up more information online.

He told the audience the most important thing to remember in dealing with fraud is to never feel pressured by scammers. Often, scams play on individuals' emotions and create a sense of urgency that leads people to make decisions without thinking much about how valid a request is.

When in doubt, verify everything before giving away any personal information, the GSPD speaker said.