Episode Details

On the KMOJ Morning Show, Freddie Bell is joined by Jay Haapala of AARP Minnesota to discuss the growing threat of scams and fraud impacting Minnesotans. Haapala explains how scammers impersonate trusted figures such as family members, government agencies, banks, faith leaders, tech support, and even immigration enforcement to trigger fear or urgency and override good judgment. He breaks down why emotional manipulation is central to these schemes and how technology is used to make scams more convincing and costly. The conversation closes with practical advice on slowing down, verifying information, talking to trusted people, and using resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network to stay protected.