Israeli sellers on tourist visas linked to US mall skincare complaints

Shoppers in U.S. malls have filed hundreds of complaints about skincare kiosks and spas that sell products bought from Mazal Group, a California company that manages dozens of brands owned by one family. Federal investigations into some store operators also uncovered the employment of young Israelis selling those products on tourist visas, producing more than a dozen guilty pleas for visa fraud and money-laundering schemes.

The findings, published on 14 October 2026, draw on state and federal lawsuits, hundreds of online reviews and nearly 500 consumer complaints obtained from agencies through Freedom of Information Act requests. Stores selling Mazal Group products operate in malls and shopping districts from Honolulu to Annapolis, Maryland.

Key facts

• Nearly 500 consumer complaints were obtained from agencies, alongside more than 50 people interviewed about the stores.
• Reported charges ranged from several hundred dollars to more than $100,000 in one case.
• More than a dozen guilty pleas for visa fraud and money laundering followed federal probes into operators employing young Israelis on tourist visas.
• Israel was admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2023, removing a key barrier to entry for unauthorized workers.
• New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez sued Santa Fe Spa Center by Voupre in 2024.

What did the complaints describe?

Customers told state attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Better Business Bureau and other watchdogs that a young salesperson offered a free sample outside a store or kiosk, then escorted or pulled them inside for repeated sales pitches. Complainants said they were kept in stores for an hour or more, sometimes in a back room, while prices were negotiated because products carried no price tags.

Shoppers reported being charged more than the agreed amount at the register. One complaint said a salesperson added a zero, turning $1,300 into $13,000; police reports describe staff claiming a card had declined and charging a second card. Several customers said they signed a tablet without being told it recorded a final-sale policy, and that undisclosed "payment plans" were in fact high-interest loans. Many said a receipt marked "All sales final. No refunds. No exchanges." was buried at the bottom of the bag.

What is the visa issue?

Federal agencies have investigated individual operators for employing young Israelis on tourist visas to sell these products, resulting in more than a dozen guilty pleas for visa fraud and money-laundering schemes. Social media posts and messages reviewed in the investigation indicate that some stores connected to Mazal Group still employ salespeople on tourist visas today.

The government has not brought similar charges for a decade, and Israel's admission to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2023 has removed a key barrier to entry for unauthorized workers.

Who has taken legal action?

Torrez's office received dozens of complaints about Santa Fe Spa Center by Voupre and filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging violations of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act. One 67-year-old customer said she agreed to spend $600 but later saw two charges totalling $44,280; she recovered $27,000 through a credit card dispute and remained responsible for $17,280.

Police reports show numerous shoppers escalated complaints to authorities, but arrests were almost never made. Records indicate some customers recovered partial or full amounts through credit card companies while others remained liable for thousands of dollars. A laboratory test commissioned for the investigation also raised questions about whether some products contain the ingredients listed on their labels.

What this means for travellers in US malls

Travellers passing through U.S. malls and shopping districts should be aware that kiosk staff may approach with free skincare samples before launching sales pitches, and that products in these stores may carry no displayed prices. Checking the amount charged before signing anything at checkout and keeping the receipt are the practical precautions the complaints point to.

The investigation does not say whether further federal charges are planned, and no new start dates or policy changes have been announced.