It can be a troubling problem throughout the state of California: Some insurance coverage agents are thieving from their clientele.
In 2022, the state’s section of Coverage has discovered at the very least a dozen brokers who stole from their customers. Just one of those brokers allegedly stole tens of countless numbers of dollars from a man who applied to dwell in Carlsbad.
“My father was a extremely attention-grabbing, multifaceted gentleman,” explained Bianca Juarez, the daughter of Gregg Juarez.
Bianca explained that, all through his last many years, Gregg became a little bit of a recluse, even from his spouse and children.
“He was pretty paranoid about anybody seeking to consider edge of him,” Bianca said. “He had cash in various bank accounts all above the position.”
Since the accounts were being all break up up, Bianca explained, no one particular observed Gregg’s dollars was staying stolen until finally right after his dying, in 2018.
“There was no one particular individual seeking at his affairs stating it did not make feeling,” Bianca claimed. “Gregg went from paying $900 a calendar year on insurance policy to $2,000 each and every thirty day period. We found all the checks, and they clearly were not in Gregg’s handwriting.”
The California D epartment of Insurance thinks it is aware who took the cash.
“There is a scenario pending here in San Diego in opposition to this person, who is a former licensee of ours,” stated Gustavo Ramos, a regional supervising investigator with the CDI.
Gregg’s ormer insurance coverage agent, John Ryan, worked out of Palm Springs but is now in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing. He has been charged with 45 counts of grand theft, identification theft and elder abuse connected to the additional than $75,000 he allegedly stole from Juarez.
Ryan has pleaded not responsible to the fees. NBC 7 Responds reached out to him and his legal professional for a remark on this story but has not hear back.
This isn’t an isolated situation. Likely back to the commencing of the calendar year, NBC 7 discovered a sample. More than a dozen insurance coverage agents arrested, accused of taking cash from the very people who set their have faith in in them.
While it appears to be like this problem is increasing, Ramos explained, the division is just staying more intentional about bringing these instances to the general public eye. The CDI mentioned these styles of crimes expense people today tens of millions of bucks just past calendar year.
“I would properly say that 70 to 80% of our victims are elderly,” mentioned Ramos.
So what can you do to secure on your own?
- Make absolutely sure your insurance coverage agent is certified with the CDI
- Hold an eye out for greater-than-predicted coverage rates on your financial institution statements
- Established a reminder to check out your insurance coverage insurance policies a several moments a calendar year to see if they are continue to active and make sure your premiums have been paid
- Ask aged spouse and children customers about getting obtain to their accounts so they can be monitored for suspicious prices
The CDI wants to make it crystal clear that the vast bulk of coverage brokers are reputable and go by ethics teaching in purchase to be accredited. The department is also asking Ryan’s shoppers to verify their insurance plan guidelines to make confident the rates have been paid out.
