A Southern California congressman is raising concerns after reports surfaced that individuals with disabilities and older adults may have been pressured into spending large sums of money at Bee & Co., a chain of skincare stores located in malls across the region. Rep. Brad Sherman, whose district includes the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, plans to bring these allegations to the attention of California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The issue came to light after a story about Victor Chisholm, a man with an intellectual disability, who claimed he spent over $50,000 at Bee & Co. stores last spring. Chisholm told CBS LA that he felt pressured into spending his life savings, despite saying, "Uh, no. I did not," when asked if he wanted to make such purchases. Another customer, Gabe Cota, who has a learning disability, said he spent over $3,000 at Bee & Co. after being lured in by a free sample and a compliment from a salesperson. Cota explained that he processes information slowly and that compliments can make him feel vulnerable. He claims the same salesperson who interacted with Chisholm also convinced him to make purchases even after he said he did not want to. Cota locked his debit card to prevent further spending, but the salesperson reportedly convinced him to send $300 via Zelle, a digital payment app. Both Chisholm and Cota allege that the salesperson used flirtatious behavior and persuasive tactics to pressure them into handing over their credit cards. Bee & Co. is owned by Mazal Group, a company based in Chatsworth, California. Mazal recently settled a class-action lawsuit involving over 100 customers in Hawaii who accused the company of unfair and deceptive practices, resulting in nearly $1 million in losses. The company has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the allegations. In a recent email to Chisholm’s attorney, Fred Voigtmann, Bee & Co. attorney Efrat Levy claimed that Chisholm engaged in "harassing and inappropriate conduct" and denied any wrongdoing. The company also offered to return the money if Chisholm and his attorney removed negative comments and reviews and sent a letter to the mall stating that Voigtmann "did not know what actually took place." Westfield, which operates the Topanga mall, said the reported treatment of the customer was "deeply troubling" and that it was "evaluating appropriate legal remedies." Rep. Sherman warned that the allegations could pose a reputational or legal risk for the mall. Mazal is also connected to other skincare and beauty stores in Southern California, including locations at Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks and Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. When approached by CBS LA reporters, employees at some of these stores declined to comment, with one salesperson refusing to be filmed and saying, "I don’t want to be in your video." The allegations against the retailers have not been resolved in court, and the companies continue to deny wrongdoing. Chisholm’s attorney has created a website where people can report their experiences with coercive skincare sales.