Washington AG Sues Online Course For 'Deceptive' Marketing

SEATTLE — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed a lawsuit against a South Carolina tech sales program, alleging that the company used deceptive marketing practices to scam Washingtonians out of tens of thousands of dollars.

The company, Prehired LLC, offered an online training program for $30,000 which promised to help students land a lucrative career in tech. It's marketing even included that promise, saying “We guarantee you land a $60k+ job offer (from a tech company YOU choose).”

That's a steep guarantee, and one that the company couldn't keep, Ferguson said. Not only did many applicants not secure high-paying tech jobs, but they were then subject to "aggressive collection techniques" from Prehired, which used lawsuits and forced arbitration to gather tuition fees.

"The company claims 90 percent of its students find employment, but it does not disclose that students have to apply to 20 or more jobs a week until they find employment as part of the program or risk voiding the job guarantee," the Attorney General's Office (AGO) said in a news release. "Nor does that total include any students who left the program early or Prehired removed from it, which allowed the company to keep that percentage artificially high."

Ferguson's office filed its suit against Prehired and owner Joshua Jordan in King County Superior Court this week. The suit accuses them of violating the state's Consumer Protection Act through false advertising, and of operating a private vocational school in the state without a license, which should have made contracts for payment unenforceable.

“Washingtonians forked over tens of thousands of dollars in hard-earned money based on Joshua Jordan’s lies,” Ferguson said. “I intend to make sure Jordan and his company do not prey on anyone else. I will fight to see his victims paid back and help get them out from under these illegal contracts.”

It's unclear exactly how many Washingtonians fell prey to Prehired, though the Attorney General's Office is aware of at least 39 who entered into payment contracts, and who collectively owe the company over $1 million. The AGO is asking that anyone else who was hurt by Prehired contact them by filing a complaint online. Ferguson's suit will be attempting to recoup the money, and force Prehired to pay $7,500 for every violation of the Consumer Protection act.