A midtown firm that billed itself as a security guard training company was actually a sham that bilked more than 15,000 customers out of $500 fees for jobs that didn’t exist, a new Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit charges.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman slapped 1st Security Preparation and Placement and its owner Allen Haft with the lawsuit Tuesday.
The company has been advertising in newspapers and on Craigslist since 2008.
People responding to the ads were falsely promised that they’d been selected for a position but must first fork over up to $670 for training, court documents claim.
The AG’s office conducted an undercover sting after 200 customers complained about the alleged con.
“Posting phony job listings during an economic crisis is a particularly cynical effort to prey on the hopes of struggling workers and families,” Schneiderman said in a statement.
Engel Perez, 24, of Manhattan says he was ripped off by the W. 40th Street firm.
“I was desperate for a job and I thought it was a good opportunity, but it was not what I expected at all,” he told the Post.
Perez shelled out over $500 for a month of classes in topics like fire safety only to be referred to companies that weren’t hiring.
“They told me, we will guarantee you a job after you get the certificate,” Perez said.
The company faces $5,000 fines for each alleged victim.
Yesterday the state attorneys secured a court order freezing 1st Security Preparation’s assets and preventing it from continued advertising.
Company officials did not return calls for comment.
