DEEP DIVE: Inside the courses promising to help tradies get rich quick

A new wave of online 'get rich quick' courses is targeting young Australian tradies, promising financial freedom with minimal effort—yet behind the glossy Instagram ads and 'escape the 9-to-5' narratives lies a troubling reality. Hack reporter Alice Angeloni’s investigation into ABC Sales Agency, a course provider operating out of the UAE and targeting young men in trades, reveals a system that mimics pyramid schemes: participants pay thousands, often through falsified loans, to learn sales techniques they’re then pressured to resell. Former students describe intense group dynamics, severed relationships, and mental health tolls—while the company remains unregistered in Australia and unresponsive to scrutiny. Professor Deanna Grant-Smith warns that the core red flag is the promise of 'no skills, no experience needed'—a hallmark of predatory education models. These courses exploit financial insecurity, especially among apprentices and low-income workers, using aspirational content and social proof to mask high-risk, low-return opportunities. The real cost isn’t just money—it’s time, relationships, and mental well-being.