NYC Women Paid Thousands for Cosmetics Training, Claim They Were Ghosted by Influencer

Influencer's Cosmetics Training Course

• 💡 Two New York City women claim they paid thousands of dollars for a cosmetics training course offered by an influencer known as Melanie.
• 💰 Melanie, a Florida-based influencer, marketed herself as having achieved significant financial success through permanent makeup.
• 🎯 The course was advertised with a promise to teach participants how to generate $1 million in one year, with one testimonial claiming $200,000 a month in earnings.

Payment and Course Cancellation

• 💸 Ashley Landon and Michelle at Chavari each paid $3,000 for the course, originally priced at $6,000, with a discount offered.
• 📅 The day before the scheduled New York City course, Melanie canceled, citing emergency surgery.
• ✈️ Participants were offered a full refund or the option to take the course in Miami in 2025, with Melanie covering flights and accommodation.

Lack of Communication and Refund Issues

• 🚫 After agreeing to the Miami option and providing 30 days' notice, the women claim Melanie stopped responding to their communications.
• 📱 Attempts to contact Melanie via calls, emails, and messages were unsuccessful, with one participant stating she was blocked.
• 📢 Despite the issues, Melanie has continued to promote other courses in different cities.

Consumer Advice and Investigation

• 🔍 Consumer advocate Terresa Murray advises vetting influencers, checking licenses and references, and getting signed contracts.
• 💳 She strongly recommends paying with a credit card for easier dispute processes and avoiding 'buy now, pay later' or debit card payments.
• 💳 Both women used Square for installment payments, and Square deactivated Melanie's account due to ongoing assessments of her business.
• ⚖️ The banks are noted as the final arbiters of refunds, and disputes may not be automatic.

Legal and Regulatory Questions

• 📝 The women filed police reports in Miami-Dade and Suffolk County, but jurisdiction and investigation progress are unclear.
• 🏢 Florida state records identify the influencer as Melanie Restrio Herrera, and permanent makeup in Florida requires a tattoo license and bloodborne pathogens course.
• ❓ The Florida Department of Health has not yet confirmed if Melanie possesses the necessary qualifications.
• 🌐 Similar complaints have emerged from customers in Virginia and California, indicating a pattern of alleged ghosting across multiple jurisdictions.