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Federal Ruling Helps Protect Adult Learners from Fraudulent GED® Web Sites

Posted on 10/03/2012

GED Testing Service

Over the past several years, a number of Internet-based companies have engaged in fraudulent practices by offering high school diplomas and GED® credentials that are not accredited, bilking unsuspecting adult learners out of millions of dollars. On September 6, 2012, in a victory over these illegal practices, a federal judge in New York issued an order that has ended the operations of at least one major "diploma" mill that had fraudulently lured thousands of customers into paying for fake GED® test credentials.

The ruling ordered the shutdown of all of the company's websites and granted a $6 million dollar damages award to the GED Testing Service®. The ruling will also make it easier to crack down on other such businesses and any of their affiliates in the future. Randy Trask, President of  the GED Testing Service® noted that while it may be difficult to collect these damages, "…if we try and are successful, any funds collected that exceed our legal feels will be used to fund a scholarship program for financially-strapped GED®-Takers."

While recognizing this victory, Trask added the caveat that "Consumers, state attorneys general, and the entire adult education ecosystem need to be much more aware of the prevalence of and damage caused by these online diploma mills." To help raise awareness and educate the public, the GED Testing Service® has developed a web resource for consumers and educators, Protect Yourself From Fraud, which provides information on how to identify fake credential providers and how to report suspected fraud.

Find out more about GED Testing Service.® The GED® test is the only high school equivalency program recognized by all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. insular areas, and Canadian provinces and territories.