Lindenhurst Police searching for insurance scammer

Law enforcement officials in Lake County say they are searching for a man who they say defrauded customers during an insurance scam.

Chong “Joey” H. Nam, 28, of Lakewood, IL., operated an insurance agency in Lindenhurst, and allegedly took payments from customers for insurance premiums, Lindenhurst Police Chief Kevin Klahs said.

However, Nam never applied the more than $1,200 in payments to the customers’ insurance policies, Klahs said, then shut down his Allstate Insurance office.

Nam is charged on two felony counts of theft, and a third misdemeanor count of theft, Klahs said.

Allstate Insurance is listed as the victim because the company covered the cost of the premiums that were stolen, he added.

Nam is considered a wanted fugitive by police, Klahs said, and has lived in Lindenhurst and Gurnee previously.

He is described as an Asian male, 5-foot, 10-inches tall, 215 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Nam’s whereabouts should contact Lake County Crime Stoppers at (847) 662-2222. Anyone who gives a tip to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous. People who see suspicious activity are asked to not confront the person themselves, but instead contact Lindenhurst police or the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.