Local
Mall skincare shoppers report unwanted sales and charges reaching thousands
Shoppers at mall skincare stores selling products from Mazal Group say they were pressured into purchases they did not want or could not afford. Complaints include thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges and products customers say they could not return; the practices have drawn lawsuits and a federal investigation.
Shoppers approached in malls with offers of free skincare samples have reported being pressured into buying costly products and services they did not want, could not afford or tried to refuse, according to an investigation published Oct. 15, 2026. The stores sold skincare products purchased from Mazal Group, the investigation found.
Some customers said they faced thousands of dollars in charges they had not authorized. They also reported being left with unwanted products that they could not return. The complaints have prompted lawsuits and a federal investigation, though details about the investigators and the scope of the inquiry were not provided in the available account.
The accounts underscore the risks consumers can face when a seemingly casual sales pitch becomes a high-pressure transaction. Older adults and people with disabilities were among the shoppers described as being targeted. Anyone asked to pay for a product or service should be given clear terms and a genuine opportunity to decline; consumers who see charges they did not approve can contact their card issuer to dispute them.