How Scammers Exploit Our Elders

About this episode

The episode discusses how scams exploit older adults and offers insights from law enforcement on prevention.

In this episode of The Good Grief Podcast , hosts Pete Waggoner and Michael O’Connell sit down with St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knutson to talk about a growing threat facing older adults: scams that prey on kindness, trust, and fear. From grandparent scams and fake tech support calls to government impersonators and gift card fraud, Sheriff Knutson shares real-world examples from his thirty years in law enforcement. The conversation explores why these crimes are so hard to track, why many victims never report them, and how families can take practical steps to protect their loved ones. This episode is about awareness, education, and breaking the silence around scams so fewer families are harmed.

People in this episode

Hosts: Pete Waggoner, Michael O’Connell

Guest: Scott Knutson

Topics covered

• scams
• elder abuse
• awareness
• education
• law enforcement

Keywords

• scams
• elderly
• fraud
• law enforcement
• protection
• awareness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: St. Croix County Sheriff

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