TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has filed a lawsuit after receiving more than 100 complaints alleging that certain online diploma companies were advertising and selling falsified diplomas and transcripts.
Bondi’s suit names Diversified Educational Resources, LLC (DER), doing business as Jefferson High School (JHS) and Enterprise High School, Alexander Wolfram and Maria Garcia as defendants and alleges violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and Fraudulent Practices Act
The defendants allegedly registered DER and JHS with the Florida Department of State as operating an online high school diploma program. A virtual office was allegedly set up in Broward County to create the impression that the school was located in Florida, it is alleged.
According to the suit, the program provides no textbooks, coursework or instruction. The requirements to receive a diploma are to take a one-minute experience survey and a 100-question test, it is alleged, and consumers then receive the diploma and transcripts within five days.
It is also alleged the defendants will provide a verbal verification to confirm the validity of the diploma and transcript for those seeking confirmation of the JHS credentials.
The suit was filed alleging violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Florida Statute Chapter 817.06 and Florida Statute Chapter 501.97. It seeks an injunction against the defendants, civil penalties, legal fees and customer restitution.
Fla. AG says online diploma companies selling false documents
