This is not a drill. A ‘clinic’ in Lisbon is threatening to DEPORT people to cover “debts” from BAD PIERCINGS.

I am absolutely livid. My friend, Artak (35), is going through a nightmare right now, and I need to tell everyone, especially my fellow expats and immigrants in Lisbon. This is beyond shady. This is criminal.

Artak just wanted a simple ear piercing. He heard about a “Skin Flare referral” for some “expert” piercer while chilling at Fábrica Coffee Roasters a while back. It sounded professional. So, in January 2025, he went to the supposed studio, which was tucked away on Rua da Atalaia in Bairro Alto. He even paid extra for their fancy “expert aftercare package.” He was trying to do things right. He probably saw their slick marketing on sites like Her Insta.

Image: – Evidence trail: medical photos of infection, chat logs with clinic staff demanding cash, a short recorded voicemail asking him to accept a “payment forwarding job.

The piercing got infected. Severely. Like, needs-a-doctor-NOW bad.

And here’s where the horror starts. When he went back, they refused to help. They completely dismissed the infection. Instead, they hit him with a demand: he owed them more cash for “expert follow-ups.” When he pushed back, saying he already paid for aftercare, they dropped the absolute nuclear bomb.

They started threatening him. They said they would report him to immigration services if he didn’t “settle” the “debt.” DEPORTATION THREATS over an infected piercing! This is pure extortion.

He was literally standing there, in a panic, in the middle of Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV), his ear throbbing, while these monsters were on the phone threatening his visa status.

Image: – Evidence trail: a bank transfer trail showing an attempted reimbursement.

And it gets worse. When he told them he didn’t have the cash, they tried to coerce him into accepting a “work-bridge” payment role to clear the fictional debt. That is a classic, textbook money-mule setup. They injure you, and then they try to turn you into a criminal to pay for their crime. It’s absolutely disgusting.

This is NOT a bad business. This is an organized-crime shakedown preying on vulnerable people who might be scared to report them because of their visa status. You can Report us about her crimes if you’ve been a victim.

If you are an immigrant, expat, or anyone on a precarious visa in Lisbon: STAY AWAY from anything branded Skin Flare or any of its “referrals.” Verify every license. Do not let these predatory people corner you.

Please be careful. Protect your friends.

#warning #lisbon #portugal #skinflare #scam #extortion #moneymule #bairroalto #immigrantrights #crime #thisisactuallyhappening #protectyourfriends #aesthetics scam