In September 2024, Marriott International secured an $8 million legal victory against two Mexico-based defendants, Cancun Ink and Deep Blue Desarrollos. These telemarketing companies were responsible for more than 66 million robocalls between 2018 and 2022, many of which misused Marriott’s name to promote vacation and timeshare deals. YouMail helped Marriott build its case by identifying fraudulent calling activity and providing evidence of its scale.
How robocalls hurt Marriott’s brand
Marriott was among the brands exploited by fraudulent robocallers. During 2020, calls falsely claiming to be from Marriott surged to seven million per month. These calls damaged the company’s reputation and caused frustration and confusion among customers, some of whom were deceived into sharing personal information.
To protect its brand and customers, Marriott filed a “John Doe” lawsuit in 2021. The lawsuit later named 10 defendants, including domestic and foreign entities. The legal battle was about more than trademark infringement: it was also about protecting consumers from harassment and deceptive practices.
How YouMail helped build the case
YouMail partnered with Marriott to identify the source of illegal calls. By tracking phone numbers and analyzing call patterns, YouMail provided evidence demonstrating the scale of the fraudulent activity. This helped Marriott issue subpoenas, gather key data, and revise its lawsuit to name specific offenders.
“We were able to help identify certain entities originating fraudulent robocalls and provide evidence of the scale and effect of these campaigns. Our collaboration with Marriott was key to addressing a frustrating issue for both the company and consumers.”
YouMail also collaborated with the Industry Traceback Group, recognized by the FCC for its expertise in tracking illegal robocalls. Together, these efforts helped Marriott build a case that led to the $8 million judgment and a broad injunction against further robocall activity by the defendants.
The legal outcome and its impact
Along with financial damages, the court issued a broad injunction against the defendants and their associates. The outcome sends a strong message to operators who exploit well-known brands and illustrates how evidence from telecom networks can support legal action against impersonation campaigns.
The scale of the wider problem remains substantial. According to the YouMail Robocall Index, U.S. consumers received nearly 4.5 billion robocalls in September 2024 alone. Marriott’s case demonstrates how detection, traceback investigations, and legal action can work together to protect both a brand and its customers.
For more on the court’s decision, read Marriott’s announcement.