DirecTV Targets Fraud Scheme in Utah

[Gregg Lengling]

DirecTV said Thursday it filed a lawsuit in federal court against a Utah couple it claims conducted a fraudulent scheme to obtain programming from the satellite TV company for consumers by setting up false subscription accounts and illegally activating receivers.

The suit, filed in a U.S. District Court in Utah, claims that the defendants, Troy and Marci Sample of Draper, Utah, created false subscription accounts and illegally activated multiple access cards and receivers for at least 32 individuals. Those users paid the Samples to receive DirecTV programming without authorization or proper payment to DirecTV, the company said.

Those who were using the illegally activated access cards were also named as defendants and are listed in the complaint as John Does until they are identified, DirecTV said.

DirecTV said the defendants violated provisions of the Federal Communications Act, Federal Wiretap laws and Utah state law, all of which state it is illegal to intercept or assist others in intercepting encrypted satellite signals without authorization or payment. Claims against the defendants include fraud, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment and tortious interference with contractual relations, DirecTV said.