Security Elite Group and LJW Security Services & Training, Inc. were sued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Wednesday for allegedly using fake job listings and false employment promises to get consumers to buy over-priced training courses.
Security Elite is owned by Stephan Edouard, and LJW is owned by Larry Williams.
Schneiderman's office received complaints against the two unlicensed security companies alleging they would post jobs that didn't actually exist and then tell interested jobseekers they had to take training courses through LJW that would cost approximately $400 before they could be hired. After taking the courses, jobseekers allegedly were told that instead of the jobs advertised they would receive referrals to positions at other companies. Ultimately, they allegedly were told by the companies they were referred to that the jobs didn't exist and the firms had no knowledge of the aforementioned security companies.
“Companies that prey upon the vulnerable and the unemployed to make a profit must be held accountable,” Schneiderman said. “There has to be one set of rules for everyone, and our office will go after scammers that rip off New York’s consumers.”
Schneiderman has received a temporary restraining order freezing the assets of Security Elite, also known as Secure Enforcement Group, and LJW in order to ensure that they will have sufficient funds to pay for any judgments issued in the case.