In this new settlement, Gotra has done similar misconduct, while taking it a step further by contracting Defend America and Power Marketing and authorizing them to market products to consumers on the DNC list as well as illegally calling people without proper identification of themselves. They did this by using spoof caller ID numbers and providing misrepresentation of services, on many occasions saying they were from a competing home security company called ADT. Gotra is also being charged of obtaining consume reports without having permissible purpose, disregarding the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Defend America and Power Marketing have both settled their cases. According to FTC’s press release, Defend America’s principal Jessica Merrick is permanently banned from telemarketing or assisting in telemarketing. The company received an imposed civil penalty of $2,296,500. Power Marketing’s principal Kevin Klink is permanently banned from selling home security and medical alert devices. The company received an imposed civil penalty of $3,293,512.
