Rogue of the Week

[July 30th, 2003] Here at the Rogue Desk, we like to think that one dose of our scathing invective is enough to shake the rascality out of our chosen ne'er-do-well and restore balance and harmony to the world. We like to think all sorts of absurd things, though, and like a batch of rotten apples in a barrel of water, some Rogues just keep bobbing to the surface.

Take wayward insurance salesman Michael B. Woodward , for example. One year ago, we told of how Woodward lost his license to sell insurance in Oregon and Washington for bamboozling his octogenarian clients (see Rogue of the Week, July 31, 2002). We reported that through his company, Secure Tomorrows, he sold them new insurance policies for one provider, Pioneer Life, when they thought they were renewing policies he'd sold them before with another, Equitable Life. We recounted the melancholy tale of Carrol and Edgar Husted, who claimed Woodward cheated them.

But it looks like you can't teach an old Rogue new tricks.

According to residents of the Van Mall Retirement Center in Vancouver, Wash., Woodward came to the facility one day in June and waltzed into the room of a woman in her mid-80s to sell her "pre-paid home services," the suspiciously insurance-like policies he peddles now that his license has been revoked. He walked out with $1,500. There was just one hitch, though. The woman--who wished to remain anonymous--had a friend who was savvy to Woodward's schemes: Carrol Husted.

"This person cannot see well, and she was expecting another man to come visit," Husted says. "[Woodward] knew her name, age, birthdate, Social Security number, and even which church she goes to."

Once word got out that the woman had been duped, Van Mall's staff demanded that Woodward refund her money. Which he did--minus a $200 fee.

"What he sold her included some services that we already provide," says Denny Kartchner, the manager of the retirement home. "I don't want anybody coming in and soliciting my residents without my knowledge."

Woodward, however, claims he had been invited. "They have to show some interest before we call," he told WW. "When people want their money back, I give it back. There are a lot of happy campers out there."

Though Woodward argues that there's bound to be some confusion with convoluted policies, especially among his elderly clients, legitimate insurance agents are disgusted with his business practices.

"He's a scoundrel," says Portland insurance specialist John Lenz. "This has the word 'scam' written all over it."

Seen a rogue on the loose? Call us at 243-2122 ext. 380 or email newsdesk@wweek.com.