Ep 2. The Big Fraud

In "The Big Fraud," the second episode of season 4 of Dragnet, detectives Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) investigate a series of fraudulent schemes that have been targeting elderly citizens.

The episode opens with Joe and Frank responding to a call from an elderly woman who claims that she has been swindled out of her life savings by a man posing as a financial advisor. Despite her distress, the woman is hesitant to provide the detectives with any useful information, as she is embarrassed and scared about what might happen if the con artist finds out that she has talked to the police.

Undeterred, Joe and Frank begin a methodical investigation into the case, interviewing everyone from the woman's neighbors to the employees at the bank where she withdrew her money. Their investigation leads them to a number of other victims, all of whom have fallen prey to similar scams.

As they gather more evidence, Joe and Frank begin to piece together the operations of the criminal syndicate responsible for the fraud. They discover that the fraudsters have been using a variety of tactics to gain their victims' trust, including impersonating investment advisors, convincing people to invest in phony companies, and using fake documents to legitimize their operations.

As Joe and Frank get closer to cracking the case, they find themselves in a race against time to catch the criminals before they disappear with their ill-gotten gains. With the help of some clever detective work and a bit of luck, they are ultimately able to bring the perpetrators to justice and put an end to their fraudulent activities.

Overall, "The Big Fraud" is a gripping episode of Dragnet that provides a fascinating look into the world of white-collar crime and the efforts of dedicated law enforcement professionals to bring these criminals to justice. With its expert blend of suspense and procedural elements, this episode is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.