An Albany man has been arrested in connection with an alleged phone scam in the state of Florida.

Ming Shan Zhu, 33, allegedly contacted a person in Lake County, Florida, claiming that he was from Microsoft and he needed $8,500 in Lowe’s gift cards to repair the victim’s computer. The victim purchased 17 gift cards worth $500 each and provided the serial numbers to Zu by telephone, investigators said.

Detectives traced the transactions to the Lowe’s in Glenmont. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Bethlehem Police Department to assist in the investigation.

Bethlehem Police picked up Zhu on Tuesday and charged him with third-degree grand larceny. He was arraigned in Bethlehem Town Court and released. He is due back on June 4 at 4 p.m.