Indiana attorney general files suit over robo-call scam

INDIANAPOLIS -

Indiana's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against a company for making illegal robo-calls. Greg Zoeller's office says Jerome Edmond and USA Promotions impersonated an ADT home security systems representative and offered "free" alarm systems.

Over 160 Indiana residents in 13 counties filed complaints about the company, with most coming from Marion, Hamilton and Hendricks Counties.

Reportedly, the pre-recorded message stated, in part: "This is a public safety call. Due to the rise in residential burglaries in your community ADT will be giving you a free ADT Home Security Alarm System with free installation and activation which means you pay absolutely nothing out of pocket for this security system. This promotion expires in your community this week so it's important you return our phone call right away. You can reach us toll-free at ----."

ADT said no one from its company placed those calls.

Zoeller called it "scamming at its worst" because it was taking advantage of genuine concern about rising crime.

The lawsuit seeks fines and penalties and a permanent injunction against Edmond, an Illinois resident, and his unregistered company U.S.A. Promotions, for calls violating Indiana's Telephone Privacy law and the state's Auto-Dialer law, and for falsely representing that he was an affiliate of ADT.

In June, the Attorney General's Office also filed suit against Power Home Technologies, Inc., a North Carolina home security seller. That case is pending.

The attorney general's office warns what to watch out for:

Consumers should beware of unscrupulous home security sellers who promise a "free" home security system in order to lure them into signing a long-term alarm monitoring contract.

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Indiana attorney general files suit over robo-call scam