Latest news with #RestrepoHerrera
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC women speak out after influencer took their money for a specialized training course — and then vanished
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. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how 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) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 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. 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: 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 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. 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 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead 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 Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
Influencer accused of disappearing after canceling class offers refunds to NYC customers, but there's a catch
Multiple women said a TikTok beauty influencer disappeared after they paid her thousands of dollars for a cosmetics training course that never took place. Days after CBS News New York's first report aired, the influencer has reemerged and is offering some women refunds, but there's a catch. Women say beauty influencer stopped responding to questions about refunds, rescheduling Esthetician Marley Matamoros said last year, she paid $3,500 for a course on permanent makeup in New York City taught by Florida-based influencer Melanny Restrepo Herrera. But Matamoros and two other women – Ashley Landin and Michelle Echeverry – claim the influencer canceled the course, then stopped responding when they messaged her to try to reschedule or get a refund. One of the women said Restrepo Herrera even blocked her on social media. "Like, I had no clue what to do," Matamoros said. CBS News New York investigator Mahsa Saeidi tried to get in touch with Restrepo Herrera. She even asked a reporter from CBS News Miami to stop by her listed address. The reporter spoke to a man who identified himself as Restrepo Herrera's stepfather. That man said she lived at the home but was not there at the time. After CBS News New York's report aired Sunday night, Restrepo Herrera's Instagram and TikTok accounts were deleted. Customers asked to sign documents in order to get refund Wednesday morning, after weeks of radio silence, the women said Restrepo Herrera sent them an email, writing that her business, the Luxury Ink, "came to the conclusion that in your particular case, we will be issuing a refund." There is a catch, however. In order to get the refund, Restrepo Herrera said the women must sign what she calls "corresponding documents" that are being sent to them. "I think that she should just still give us the refund without having to sign any documents. I'm not sure what the documents are for," Landin said. Restrepo Herrera's attorney, who was included on the email, told CBS News New York, "We are taking care of this matter separately with each Client" and "all the information is confidential." The women are not sure what is in the documents they will be asked to sign. Saeidi asked Restrepo Herrera's attorney about the documents, and if Restrepo Herrera is still tattooing eyebrows and teaching classes. The attorney said, "My Client is not interested in providing any information," but in the email, Restrepo Herrera did apologize for the "inconvenience." The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has a detective assigned to this case. As of now, Florida Department of Health records show Restrepo Herrera does not have the license or permits to do permanent makeup. On Restrepo Herrera's website, Luxury Ink Academy, she's still advertising a course set to happen in Dallas in June.
