The Las Vegas Courtesan

So I opened up the Las Vegas Sun website last week and saw this article plastered to the front page. Just by the mug shot blaring me in the face I knew it was prostitution/vice related, but when I read the headline a little part inside of me rejoiced! I was glad to see that the county had finally grown tired and caught on to these massage clubs scamming tourists out of money all at the expense of the trust of the local cabbies (which is why Nevada Taxicab Authority got involved). Here’s a previous blog post I wrote about it warning any readers about the huge scam.

At first I was glad about the raids, but then I started thinking about the effects this would have on other legitimate businesses in the industry as well. Over the years the scams the cabbies have pulled on these tourists have echoed throughout people’s thoughts on Vegas. More and more I hear of disappointed tourists and have had more verbally aggressive clients because they never want that same event to happen to them again. All in all it makes people have a soured mood about this town like we are all out to scam people out of whatever money they have. They already feel taken by the blackjack tables and now they can’t even have a good time with a girl without feeling like someone is out to get them. I always try to prove clients wrong that those clubs are different than us, but it’s hard to overcome. I know a lot of phone girls who have to sway the client’s opinion and explain that having a stripper come to their room is a totally different experience.

What I am really afraid of is how the local law enforcement will get the idea that ALL of us are bad. Like the agencies who sell strippers to client’s rooms legally, but the client ends up assuming something completely different because he didn’t listen and thought that prostitution is legal here. They then get upset and report us to police or security because of their own ignorance, and in turn we could all be thought of as a public nuisance. The difference between us and these clubs who were raided is this: the clubs sell men the thought that they are getting something much much more while dancing on the line of soliciting (I’ve heard of some places selling “hand jobs” when in fact they receive a hand massage) when in fact these girls never strip, dance or anything else. The agencies will tell you straight up that prostution is illegal here and the girl comes out for a striptease for a fee. People still read into this basic line and assume something different, but really there are no lines to read in between.

The other businesses that are hurt by these scam clubs? The legit massages therapists, reflexology specialists, and massage businesses. These “sex” clubs operate under several different types of business licenses that are all obtained under false pretenses. Several examples of these completely off licenses that are on paper with the county are: bookstores, art galleries, massage therapy parlors, snack stores, fitness clubs, and reflexology specialists. The real massage parlors and masseuses deal with crazy legal battles just to prove that their business that they want to open will not be a rub and tug joint. I even know of a personal friend who had to deal with months of issues with the county because she wanted to set up some massage chairs in a public area.

During the weekend I didn’t notice any real difference, but had one phone girl comment that calls seemed to be easier to book. Besides the clubs that were named in the article as being raided, I’ve noticed the rest of the sex clubs coming back and reopening, sometimes leaving their open signs off but taxis still are dropping unsuspecting clients off at the front and driving away as fast as possible once they are inside. My hopes is that the local government shuts these places down and doesn’t mess with the businesses that are running themselves properly. They are a real public nuisance and constantly use our tax dollars by calling police or clients calling police *constantly*. These places are constantly held up and robbed, pose a threat to other local businesses nearby, and most importantly gives Vegas a bad name (and even taxi drivers). The local economy has a long way to go to rebuild itself and more negative attention and reputation with the tourists is not what this town needs. This is Sin City afterall! Keep it Sin City and not Scam City.

So I have mentioned scams that happen in Vegas, but more and more recently I have heard of girls who have been scammed, or attempted, through their ads online nationwide. I know this has been going on for a number of years because I received one of these funny calls years ago and smelled a rat before it even got to the point that they asked me for money. Recently the calls have been picking up again and just now received and email from a reader who unfortunately fell for their tactics.

The call goes something like this, a rude and impatient man calls claiming to be a VIP casino host who only deals with big rollers claims to be calling from one of the major casinos in town. He tries to offer a deal a girl just can’t refuse. Large amounts of money for several days with said client (sometimes throwing out a celebrity name or professional sports team) in exchange for signing some sort of waiver that says that I will not spill the beans to the media about said celebrity client. This is all meant to make the girl believe that this is some serious, real deal going on. I never got past this point because I would never give anyone my real personal information, and more obviously, I would never oust myself to any media outlet just because someone was a celebrity. I am discreet and would only be hurting myself to try to blackmail someone just because of their “status” in society. I usually get rude back at them and hang up…

What’s their point behind all of this? Eventually the “host” ends up asking girls for money as some sort of deposit to hold this too good to be true client, or told that it’s an application fee and they will be chosen after review. I hate to hear that girls have fallen for this and have no idea how much they have scammed out of but remember this rule: NEVER pay any client or so-called host to see a client. You provide your services for a fee, you don’t pay someone to hold a client. Whatever money they offer, it’s too good to be true and move on. Also, never give someone your real identity to see said client. Your personal safety and well being are far more important than whatever they have to offer. So, be careful out there girls and ignore these scammers!