Clovis PD aids seniors against scammers

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Seniors in the Clovis-area got a lesson in internet scamming and the best way to avoid being a victim in the age of technology.

Assembly Member Jim Patterson brought leaders from different agencies together Thursday to educate vulnerable targets. A Clovis Police Department officer says the most prevalent crime he sees is email phishing crimes.

He says many times targets send random emails to victims and pose as family members who need money.

"Verify, call other family members, do a little bit of research before you go and send a bunch of money," Officer Ryan Wade with the Clovis Police Department said. "And that's the same for a sweepstake. If you haven't put in for a sweepstake you likely haven't won a sweepstake."

Other agencies like the cemetery and funeral bureau as well as the bureau of automotive repair taught potential victims how to protect themselves in the future.