Sheriff Seal Cautions About New Scam

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal cautions elderly residents about a new scam which has been reported in Washington Parish.

A man who identified himself as Douglas Malley went to an elderly resident’s house and said he was an agent for TransAmerica Life Insurance. He offered a low price insurance policy designed especially for older people. The victim stated he was a “very nice young man” and she gave him all of the information he requested, including her date of birth, social security number and checking account number. The only thing she did not provide was a voided check to start bank drafts. She told him she would have to ask her daughter before she gave him the check.

As the man left, he stated he would be back in touch with her the following day. She hasn’t heard back from him. He provided a telephone number which was not a working number.

The victim’s daughter contacted TransAmerica Life Insurance and learned that they did not have an agent by that name. She also contacted the Commissioner of Insurance and learned there was no licensed agent by that name in Louisiana.

Sheriff Seal cautioned, “Do not—I repeat—do not give out personal information to anyone you do not know. Your social security and bank account numbers should be guarded very closely. If anyone comes to you with a deal that seems too good to be true, don’t fall for the scam. Before you give out any information or commit to anything, talk to a family member, your personal banker or someone else you know and trust. If anyone has any information about this young man who claims to be an insurance agent named Douglas Malley, please call the Sheriff’s Office at (985) 839-3434 and let us know where to find him.”