# Skincare scheme leads to lawsuits and federal investigation

> Mazal Group's skincare brands pressure shoppers into costly purchases, sparking lawsuits and federal probes.
- Title: Skincare scheme leads to lawsuits and federal investigation
- Summary: Mazal Group's skincare brands pressure shoppers into costly purchases, sparking lawsuits and federal probes. Mazal Group's family-owned skincare brands…
- Keywords: mazal group, voupre, seahawks, nfl, skincare, consumer complaints, federal investigation, credit card overcharge, red-light therapy, unfair practices, news, scheme
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/14/nx-s1-5550974/skincare-scheme-mazal-group-investigation
- Published: 2026-10-14T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: mazal group, voupre, seahawks, nfl, skincare, consumer complaints, federal investigation, credit card overcharge, red-light therapy, unfair practices, news
## Skincare scheme leads to lawsuits
NPR uncovered customers hit with thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges and products they didn't want.
## Michigan man charged $42,000
An elderly man with dementia was charged $42,000 for skincare products and devices, his family didn't realize until his credit score dropped.
## New Mexico woman charged $44,280
A woman was charged $44,280 after a salesperson kept her in a store for hours, claiming her credit card was declined.
## Hawaii disabled woman charged $2,600
A disabled woman was shown to a back room for a 'free' facial, her walker taken and she spent $2,600.
## Mazal Group's skincare brands
Mazal Group, a California-based company managing dozens of brands sold in thousands of stores worldwide, is owned by one family.
## Over 50 impacted customers
NPR spoke with more than 50 people impacted by Mazal Group, including customers, family members, and former employees.
## Federal investigation into visa fraud
Federal agencies investigated stores employing young Israelis on tourist visas to sell products, resulting in more than a dozen guilty pleas for visa fraud.
## New Mexico lawsuit against store
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against Santa Fe Spa Center by Voupre for violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act.
## Mary Lee's $19,000 charge
Mary Lee, an artist from Duluth, Minnesota, was pressured into spending $19,000 on products at Santa Fe Spa Center by Voupre.
## Ann Arbor store charges
Michele Anliker's elderly mother was pressured into spending $5,000 on products she didn't want at Beauty Essentials in Ann Arbor.
## Manhattan Beach woman charged $53,500
82-year-old Mary Ellen Eckhert spent $53,500 across four credit cards at Mia's by Voupre in Manhattan Beach.
## Mazal Group family ownership
Mazal Group is owned by Daphna Oded Weingarten, her husband Eli Weingarten, her brother Avihu Oded, and his ex-wife Adi Sharvit Oded.
## 2010 embassy warning
In 2010, the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv warned of fraudulent activity linked to the 'Dead Sea industry' that spread to 36 states.
## 2013 'Salty Winds' operation
In 2013, federal agents conducted a raid on Shai Cohen's stores in D.C.-Maryland-Virginia, arresting 12 young Israelis working on tourist visas.
## Shai Cohen's prison sentence
Shai Cohen pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to launder money and facilitate illegal entry, serving 11 months of a two-year prison sentence.
## Omer Gur's prison sentence
Omer Gur pleaded guilty in 2016 to visa fraud and money laundering conspiracy, serving 30 months of a 6.5-year prison sentence.
## Key takeaway

Mazal Group's family-owned skincare brands pressure shoppers into costly purchases, sparking lawsuits and federal investigations.