New York Governor Fights Consumer Fraud

New York’s Governor and Former Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, who earlier cracked down on Wall Street corruption, tobacco company excesses, and mob connections in the trucking industry, today struck another blow against consumer fraud in the United States.

Spitzer, working undercover as Client 9, secretly contacted Emperor’s Club V.I.P., a prostitution firm overcharging clients by thousands of dollars.

In arranging a rendezvous for himself, Spitzer was charged approximately $4,800, including a down-payment for future appointments. Later documents reveal, Spitzer had been working on this investigation for some time.

Spitzer’s top aide, Richard Baum, told reporters, “For too long, the Emperor’s Club V.I.P., like Sprint, Verizon, Time Warner Cable, and other corporations, has been insisting on lengthy commitments from its customers, instead of simply charging its clients on a pay-as-you-go basis. Our research into the “best practices” clause of the call girl industry, shows that the ‘Emperor’ is overcharging his clients up to 451%, based on current market standards.

“In addition, adult services sites and advisors have been receiving kickbacks for giving favorable ratings to Emperor’s and others. Once again, America’s consumers find Governor Spitzer following this shameless profiteering, wherever it leads, even if velvet bindings are involved.”

Historians note that similar consumer investigations have been conducted by several governors of Louisiana.