DirecTV Seeks Default vs. Defendant Served With Complaint via Social Media

DirecTV moved for a clerk’s entry of default against defendant Motasim Billah for failure to answer its fraud complaint, said its request Friday (docket 6:22-cv-00423) in U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas in Tyler. Billah was served with the complaint March 6 through his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, but “has failed to file any pleadings or otherwise defend the case, nor have any appearance been entered by him or by anyone on his behalf,” it said. A magistrate judge in February authorized DirecTV to effect service of process of its complaint on Billah via his social media accounts because he's believed to be living in Lahore, Pakistan, with an exact address unknown (see 2302160055). DirecTV alleged in a Nov. 1 complaint that Billah was a key player with nine co-defendants in an ongoing fraud scheme in which DirecTV telemarketing impersonators stole money from existing DirecTV account holders through manipulation of gift cards (see 2211010049).