In a New York minute, three women looking to bolster their aesthetician careers lost more than $3,000 each when a highly promoted makeup course vanished overnight, along with the influencer behind it.
Marley Matamoros, Ashley Landin and Michelle Echeverry, all from New York, paid their money to take an unlicensed course led by Miami-based TikTok influencer Melanny Restrepo Herrera, who claimed to be a successful permanent makeup artist.
Don’t miss
- I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
- Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
- Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
But the class was canceled. After promising refunds and rescheduling classes, Restrepo Herrera disappeared without further communication and blocked the women on social media.
“I’ve seen her posts and I was really intrigued,” Landin told CBS News New York. “She markets herself as a millionaire who helps people achieve financial freedom.”
All three women are frustrated and angered by the lack of communication. After the CBS story aired, Restrepo Herrera followed up, offering a refund but with a catch: they need to sign “corresponding documents”.
Their ordeal raises concerns about how vulnerable people looking to improve their careers can be exploited by influencers or fake colleges who promise financial freedom but deliver nothing. Here’s how you can avoid a similar situation.
Who is Melanny, and what did she promise?
Restrepo Herrera, or simply Melanny, is a Florida-based TikToker who paints a rags-to-riches story and promotes her permanent makeup business, The Luxury Ink, through her social media. Her since-deleted Instagram and TikTok accounts were filled with posts promoting her services and luxury lifestyle.
Restrepo Herrera said she went from a homeless shelter to earning $200,000 a month, and when advertising her courses, claimed she could teach students how to make $1 million a year.
Although the course was initially priced at $6,000, Melanny offered steep discounts and payment plans. Landin said she saw others take the course and believed it was legitimate.
But the night before the class, Restrepo Herrera canceled, saying she needed emergency surgery. She told students they could either request a refund or take another course she was offering in Miami, with travel covered if they gave 30 days’ notice.
Echeverry asked for a refund but was blocked on social media. Landin tried to accept the Miami offer but never heard back. As of May 11, when the CBS News New York aired its story, Restrepo Herrera was still promoting a course set to take place in Dallas in June.
Upon further investigation by both CBS’s New York and Miami affiliates, the Florida Department of Health said that Restrepo Herrera does not have the necessary licenses or permits to teach the courses she promotes.
“I hope she gets what’s coming for her,” Echeverry said.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
How to avoid being misled by college or training scams
Unfortunately, bogus college and training course scams are common. To protect yourself, you can:
- Look up the college or influencer’s full name and verify their credentials.
- Check for required licenses and permits if they’re offering services or teaching a skill.
- Be wary of vague refund policies and unclear course details.
- Search for reviews or testimonials from past students — outside of the college or the teacher’s social media.
- Use a credit card to make purchases, which can help you dispute a charge if things go south.
And most importantly, act fast if you feel something’s wrong — whether that means asking for a refund or filing a dispute with your bank. If it’s too good to be true, it most likely is.
What to read next
- JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
- This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
- Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
