PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A KOIN 6 News investigation has revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory sales tactics at skincare kiosks across Oregon and Washington. Multiple women have shared their experiences of being coerced into spending thousands of dollars on products they didn’t want, often after being misled or intimidated.
Following a report that exposed one skincare kiosk owner at Vancouver Mall, more women came forward from various locations, including Portland, Clackamas, and Washington counties. These customers, who spoke to KOIN 6 News, described similar experiences at different kiosks, including BH28 Skincare Consultants at Vancouver Mall, Green Spa at Washington Square Mall, and Bee & Company at Clackamas Town Center.
The victims’ stories were remarkably consistent, detailing aggressive sales tactics that went far beyond simple pressure to buy. One woman, Allison Hale, described the experience as “coercion, deception, threats, intimidation, and lies.” Others, including 74-year-old Bev, felt like targets of a calculated scam. “They were going to try and sell me as much of their product as possible without concern,” she said.
The financial damage varied, with victims reporting losses between $300 and $22,000.
How the Scam Starts
For many, the ordeal began innocently enough. Shoppers were approached by friendly salespeople offering free skincare samples. “I was just walking in the mall and someone comes up and says, ‘Want to try this face cream?’” Bev recalled.
Allison Hale shared a similar experience: “She was handing out samples,” while others like Karen Chaivoe, Kathlene Kelley, and Jill Slansky were also greeted by salespeople offering complimentary products and services.
What seemed like a free sample quickly escalated into a hard sell. After testing out products like eye creams and facial treatments, customers were whisked away into small, confined rooms, where the pressure to buy intensified.
“They took me to a very tiny room, smaller than a jail cell,” Hale said. Slansky described it as a “creepy” back room, while Chaivoe referred to the “VIP facial room” as more of a “converted closet.”
The Hard Sell and the Price Tag
Once in these cramped spaces, the sales tactics took a darker turn. Customers were offered expensive products like red light therapy wands, which ranged from $5,000 to $9,000. Some were told that a damaged package meant they could buy a product for a drastically reduced price — but only if they promised to keep the offer a secret.
“I realized the only way I was going to get out of there was to buy the product,” Kelley said. Many, like her, thought they could return the items later, only to find that the receipt said “No Refunds.”
Slansky said she felt trapped. “He came back with a package and told me it was a special offer. I was getting nervous, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
The women also described feeling manipulated by overt friendliness and flattery. “It was cognitive overload,” Hale said, referring to the overwhelming number of questions they were bombarded with, making it hard to refuse.
False Promises and False Claims
The salespeople often made exaggerated claims about the products. “They said it was like permanent Botox,” Slansky recalled. Kelley was told that the creams could cure diabetes and even certain cancers. Others saw before-and-after photos of clients that seemed to suggest dramatic facial transformations.
“They prey on people like me,” said Bev, who at 74, felt particularly vulnerable.
A Common Link: Israeli Salespeople
Another strange detail emerged in several victims’ accounts: many of the salespeople identified as Israeli. Hale, who lived in Israel, immediately recognized the accent, and Slansky was told a similar story of a salesperson having to leave for Israel due to the war. These claims were later corroborated by court documents linking some of the store owners to Israel.
Legal and Law Enforcement Response
This kind of aggressive sales strategy has attracted the attention of law enforcement. The FBI and U.S. prosecutors have already targeted similar operations in the past, especially those operating within the multi-billion-dollar skincare industry. A class action lawsuit in Hawaii is set for July, calling out these predatory businesses.
At Washington Square Mall, Green Spa’s lease was not renewed after a complaint in October, and Vancouver Mall’s management has been cooperating with local law enforcement in the investigation of a former tenant involved in these scams.
In response to customer complaints, KOIN 6 News reached out to Bee & Co. for comment. A man named Avi, who did not provide his last name, offered apologies and claimed he was willing to issue refunds to affected customers.
However, Clackamas Town Center has not yet responded to inquiries about the allegations.
As these cases continue to unfold, customers are encouraged to report any similar experiences to local authorities, as investigations into these deceptive practices are ongoing.
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