Oct 15, 2009 11:18 pm US/Eastern
I-Team: Fake Licenses Pose Health Threat To Women
CHELSEA (WBZ) ―
The I-TEAM uncovers what appears to be a massive case of fraud and forgery that could pose a health threat to women across the state.
It involves phony documents, secret meetings and at least a quarter of million dollars. Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve found out -- snared in this dangerous trap are dozens of young employees of beauty salons.
Nail salons are every where these days.
The I-TEAM's hidden camera went to a popular salon. Call it the scene of the crime.
It's at that salon that at least one woman looking for a job as a cosmetologist claims to have paid thousands for a fraudulent state license.
Her name is Kim Lein. Through her interpreter, she told us she made a stupid mistake.
"… she feels sad and scared right now…"
Kim Lein gave an envelope with $5200 in it to the owner of Rose Nails in Chelsea for a state license to work as a cosmetologist. She did receive a license in the mail but state investigators, suspecting fraud, quickly revoked it.
The I-TEAM went along as the two women confronted the owner of the salon. Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve walked right up to her with the camera rolling.
"She says you took $5200 from her and helped her get a phony Massachusetts cosmetology license. Is that true?"
The stunned owner said "yes."
George Webber heads up the state agency which certifies licenses for salon employees.
"What was presented to us was a very, very good forgery," he said.
Webber told the I-TEAM late last spring they noticed a spike in salon applications all citing credentials from Virginia -- which are transferable to Massachusetts. Most were fancy forgeries.
"The most common payment was $5000 and we think it happened 51 times," Webber said.
His agency quickly revoked all those licenses.
"You care because people need to be properly trained to handle chemicals used in cosmetology, bleaches for example, and they can be dangerous if not properly used."
In all, Webber believes he uncovered massive fraud involving at least one quarter of a million dollars in cash payments just in Massachusetts.
Here's how it worked.
A salon owner like the woman in Chelsea would actually give the money to a woman called "Linda" who is featured in an ad in a local Vietnamese newspaper. She's the one state officials believe forged the Virginia documents and tried to convert them into legitimate licenses for all these untrained workers.
With the camera rolling, Shortsleeve asked the Chelsea salon owner, "You must know who you gave the money to?"
"Yes," she replied. "I know her and she come here and take the money but I don't know her house."
The salon owner produced a phone number for the mysterious "Linda". The I-TEAM called the number but no one called back.
One of the aspects of this case that troubles investigators the most is that the organizers of this ring preyed upon vulnerable immigrants-- each of them thought this was their chance to claim their piece of the American dream.
Just ask Duc Pham of Quincy.
Shortsleeve sat down with him and asked ,"How is your daughter?"
The man responded, "She is sad, but this is her fault. I tell her it is too late, don't cry."
Pham also handed over $5000 in cash to help his daughter get a license. She begged him after seeing the ad and calling "Linda".
In their case, a man identified a Mai Nguyen of Dorchester came to their Quincy home. Incredibly when pressured he gave them a written receipt with his name and address. The I-Team went there several times but it seems just like the money he has disappeared.
So who is the mysterious "Linda" and where is the man from Dorchester? Short answers, we don't know. We do know the state police from the Attorney General's office are now involved in this case. And the Vietnamese community has been put on alert in several states in New England.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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