Boyd Clewis: Is He Legit and Safe? A Detailed Review (2025)

Boyd Clewis is a cybersecurity expert and coach who helps people break into tech, especially in the field of PCI compliance and cybersecurity audits. He’s known for running a training program under his company, Baxter Clewis Consulting, where he promises to help students land high-paying tech jobs—even without a tech background. Boyd presents himself as a speaker, author, and certified professional with credentials like CISSP and CISA. While some people have praised his teaching, others online have raised serious concerns about his program’s costs, support, and results. So, it’s important to do your homework before signing up.

If you’re wondering “Is Boyd Clewis legit?”, “Is Boyd Clewis safe?”, or even “Is this a scam?”, you’re in the right place. I’ve dug into Reddit threads, Glassdoor feedback, BBB complaints, and course reviews to give you the full insider picture. Let’s unpack what it all means and whether you should proceed.

What “Legit” and “Safe” Mean

Before diving in, it helps to define what “legit” and “safe” really mean in this context:

• Legit: Does the person and their program actually exist? Is it a registered business? Do they deliver what they promise—like training and support?
• Safe: Are your payment and personal data protected? Is there transparency in pricing and refund policies? Are ethical standards followed?

When someone asks “Boyd Clewis is legit and safe?”, they want to know if it’s real—and whether it can be trusted without stress or risk.

Who Is Boyd Clewis?

Boyd Clewis presents himself as a six-figure tech career coach and PCI compliance expert, with credentials such as CISSP, CISA, CCSK, PCIP, and former QSA standing. He claims to have served as Senior Security Architect at American Airlines and now leads Baxter Clewis Consulting and a training academy.
He promotes large training packages, career coaching, and certifications to help people break into cybersecurity—even with no prior IT background.

How His Program Works

• The Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity program charges trainees roughly $10K–$15K upfront, with optional monthly fees (claimed by some at $300/month) if you stay in the internship program beyond a year.
• They teach PCI‑DSS audit and compliance training, offer internship placements, resume support, LinkedIn audits, coaching calls, and job search help—sold as a “full career acceleration program.”
• The promise: a quick path to a cybersecurity job and a six-figure income. The catch: there are no guarantees, and complaints claim campaigns promise placements that never materialize.

What People Are Saying: Legit or Scam?

Reddit Feedback: Strong Scam Allegations

Multiple threads on Reddit have labeled Boyd Clewis a scam artist. Common themes include:

“Boyd Clewis is a scam artist… Everyone that took this PCI program has not gotten a job… now you have to pay $300/month… this is a money grab.”
Users described access to training materials being revoked, no jobs after months, and bait‑and‑switch tactics. The shared tone is overwhelmingly negative.

Glassdoor: Internal Complaints

A 1.0‑star Glassdoor review labeled the company as a con job:

“All positive reviews are 100% fake. … people have been scammed out of $15‑20K… no 6 figure or any job… a course that consists of PDF files.”

Additional reviews cite layoffs, unfulfilled promises, and payroll issues.

BBB Complaints: Misleading Service Claims

Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity is not accredited by BBB, with recently filed complaints:

• Clients describe paying $15K for promised coaching, internship, and job placement—none of which materialized.
• Promised interview prep, real PCI assessments, and corporate exposure reportedly did not happen.
• Refunds are not honored.

The company’s responses say they fulfilled contractual obligations, but complainants say the received services were ineffective and unhelpful.

Review Sites: Mixed Claims

RealReviews.io shows some positive reviews:

• Descriptions of structured content and supportive materials.

But critics argue many positive entries appear scripted or insider-generated.

Industry Observations

A blog article suggests that Boyd has no hands-on PCI experience and that the program is overpriced, targeting inexperienced individuals willing to pay for dreams.

Is Boyd Clewis Legit?

He Exists and Operates a Business

• He publicly speaks at PCI Security Standards Council events as a certified CISSP/CISA/PCIP.
• He appears on media outlets like Forbes, NBC, CBS, etc., and markets himself as a success coach.

But the Program Raises Questions

• Large enrollment fees, vague refund policies, and promises of jobs that don’t seem to materialize.
• Allegations that access gets revoked, additional fees appear unexpectedly, and training is superficial (e.g. PDFs, no labs).
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So: Boyd Clewis is legit in the sense he’s a real person and business—but the program itself may not deliver as marketed.

Is Boyd Clewis Safe?

Many Warning Signs

High Costs and No Refunds

Customers report paying up to $15K with no option for refunds—even if services were undelivered.

Access Revoked

Individuals claim they were kicked out of course materials mid-program, leaving them without access to training.

Promises Not Delivered

Job placement guarantees or high-paying roles are frequently cited in marketing—but for many, reality fell short.

Scripted Positive Reviews

Glassdoor and Reddit users claim all the glowing reviews are staged by his team to attract new customers.

✅ Corporate Credentials & Accreditation Exist

He holds recognized certifications (CISSP, CISA, etc.), and has spoken publicly in technical forums.

But certifications don’t guarantee instructional quality or ethical practices.

Features & Offered Services

What’s Promised:

• Training modules on PCI DSS and audit frameworks
• Live coaching calls, resume critique, LinkedIn feedback
• Internships with “real assignments” and team placements
• Job search support and career guidance

Reality Reported:

• Training often amounts to PDF slides and pre-recorded sessions
• Claim of internship often limited to fake simulations or recycled tasks
• Contact and support vanish mid-program
• Pressure to pay ongoing fees, despite program content being static or outdated

✅ Pros and ❌ Cons: Boyd Clewis Legit and Safe?

Pros

• Boyd Clewis is a real person with verified cybersecurity certifications like CISSP and CISA.
• He has real experience working for big companies like American Airlines.
• The program teaches PCI and GRC, which are valuable in tech.
• Some students say they gained knowledge and landed jobs.
• He’s easy to find online and has a professional presence.

❌ Cons

• Very expensive – costs can be $10,000 or more with no guaranteed results.
• No refunds, even if you’re not happy with the training.
• Many complaints online about false promises and no job placement.
• Some say support disappears once you pay.
• A few reviews look fake, possibly from affiliates or internal staff

Final Verdict: Boyd Clewis Legit and Safe?

Is Boyd Clewis legit?
Yes—he’s a real person with certifications and a business presence. But his coaching program’s legitimacy is questionable given the consistent negative experiences reported.

Is Boyd Clewis safe?
Not really. Risk factors include large upfront payments, no refunds, and unmet promises. If you pay, you may not get what you expect—and support might vanish.

So while Boyd Clewis exists, the safety and reliability of his training program look highly suspect based on multiple user reports.

Tips If You’re Considering It

1. Do your research: Google “Baxter Clewis scam” and read Reddit, BBB, Glassdoor reviews.
2. Avoid upfront payment if refunds aren’t guaranteed.
3. Check independent training for PCI or cybersecurity on platforms like Cybrary, Udemy, or ISACA.
4. Verify real placement stories—not just those highlighted on his site.
5. Ask hard questions: Will I get labs? Will I really intern? How is data access revoked?
6. Use small-scale certifications first (e.g. CompTIA or CISA) before paying big sums for coaching.