A retired police officer thought he was being scammed, then found a $300K insurance policy in his name

When Charles Rahn received a suspicious letter in the mail asking for his bank and credit card information, he immediately assumed it was a scam.

"(They're) trying to scam me," Rahn told WFTV 9 News (1) in Orlando, Florida. "I mean, it certainly looks official."

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To Rahn's relief, the letter wasn't an attempt to steal his banking information. But its true purpose was just as concerning.

As Rahn told WFTV, the letter was from a company called Franklin Madison, an insurance marketing agency, informing him that he had a past-due payment on a $300,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy.

The problem? Rahn didn't even know this company existed, let alone did he have any recollection of taking out this insurance policy.

"This is $300,000 insurance, billed quarterly," Rahn told WFTV. "I haven't had a life insurance policy for years and it certainly wasn't with this company."

After discovering the letter, Rahn, a retired police officer, reached out to WFTV reporter Jeff Deal and the station's Action 9 team for help.

"I don't know Franklin Madison from a hole in the ground," Rahn said. "I have no idea who they are."

Rahn initially suspected Franklin Madison was a fake company. But WFTV confirmed that it is a legitimate insurance marketing agency that works with insurers, credit unions, and banks.

According to WFTV, Rahn received a letter from his credit union in 2025 offering $1,000 in free accidental death and dismemberment coverage.

"The letter let him know he was eligible for up to $300,000 in coverage with pricing in smaller print down below it," WFTV reported (1), adding that Charles didn't remember signing up for the offer and "looking back now, he didn't think it would cost him anything."

Franklin Madison has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau. But Deal and the Action 9 team found that most of the company's recent complaints came from consumers who said the enrollment process was confusing.

"I have no knowledge of this insurance company, and they have been taking funds from an account that I was not using daily," one complaint (2) said.

"I noticed today that I have been enrolled in whatever this insurance is since 12/13/2022... I did not sign up for or enroll in this," another complaint read.

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Shamis and Gentile, a Miami-based law firm, announced in March that it had launched a class action lawsuit investigation into fraudulent solicitations via the mail.

"The Class Action Lawyers at Shamis & Gentile, P.A. are investigating misleading and fraudulent mail solicitations sent out by a marketing company associated with banks or credit unions to consumers offering 'free' accidental death and dismemberment insurance," the firm said on its website (3).

"Consumers who received an offer for free accidental death and dismemberment insurance through their bank or credit union may have been tricked into paying for this insurance," they added. "The insurance offers were reportedly made by direct marketing company Franklin Madison Group, formerly known as Affinion Benefits Group.

Deal and his Action 9 team contacted Franklin Madison, whose spokesperson said the company is aware that some customers have been confused but denied any effort to mislead people into buying insurance.

Still, the spokesperson said the advertised $1,000 in free coverage is legitimate and noted that insurance pricing is heavily regulated. That's the "nature of the business," the spokesperson reportedly told WFTV (1).

Rahn said he hopes his experience serves as a warning for others. He urges consumers to read every letter and email from their insurance provider carefully, especially when it includes a free offer.

"Read it," he said. "Read it before you act."

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WFTV (1); Better Business Bureau (2); Shamis Gentile (3)

This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: A retired police officer thought he was being scammed, then found a $300K insurance policy in his name

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