AKRON, Ohio -- Several young women claimed to be victimized by an Akron-area modeling agency, and now the state is cracking down, reported NewsChannel5's Brad Harvey.

The Fairlawn modeling agency was first exposed by a NewsChannel5 investigation a few years ago.

Friday, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro announced that the agency must change its ways.

"As we got an abundance of complaints, and we investigated those complaints we ultimately decided to file a lawsuit to stop those practices," said Petro.

During the investigation, several young women said they answered ads from Z-Models. They were women chasing a dream that turned out to be a money trap, Harvey reported.

"I paid the $400 and when I first walked in the door, they told me they needed a check for $70 to get my hair and makeup done," said Z-Models customer Jessi Sewell.

The aspiring models said Z-Models promised immediate modeling jobs. The company denied it made these promises in a written statement -- but undercover cameras found that it did.

”'We're going to help you get a job with a $55-an-hour modeling opportunity.' 'This is a major career change for you' -- and those kinds of representations just never came through," said Petro.

As part of the settlement agreement, Z-Models will pay $70,000 in restitution to 130 consumers, along with a fine of $13,500 to the state of Ohio

From now on, the agency has to tell customers it cannot guarantee modeling positions.

NewsChannel5 tried to reach the owners of Z-Models for their reaction to the settlement, but they have not returned any calls.