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Las Vegas Stripper Sued For Millions For Relationship Fraud

Author Shawn Tempesta
News of a Las Vegas stripper sued by an Arkansas businessman has our mouths on the floor.

Rule number one of strip clubs: don’t fall in love. They’ll take you for all you are worth. Of course, when you are whisked away to the Champagne Room, you only lose money for the night. But one guy fell in love love. Now he feels two-timed and a Las Vegas stripper sued will be hauled into civil court to face the music in the form of millions of dollars.

Las Vegas Stripper Sued By Affluent Arkansas Divorcee

Fred Michael Brunner, the rich head honcho that owns Brunner & Lay, a manufacturing and warehouse company, was feeling a bit lonely. Back in 2014, he was headed into a divorce and sought some temporary love and affection at a Las Vegas strip club.

Enter Melanie Beth Sterling. The exotic dancer allegedly befriended and encouraged Brunner to head to a private room for some one on one time. The businessman says she learned he was particularly rich in that private session, and shortly thereafter the two entered into a relationship.

Over the course of a decade, Brunner said he showered Sterling with gifts, trips, and even a home worth over $700,000. In total, Brunner alleges he gave the exotic dancer over $3 million in cash and prizes. Now he wants it back, and thensome.

Refund Plus Damages

The Las Vegas stripper sued is looking at a major issue if Brunner gets what he wants. He is seeking the $3 million back, along with an additional $35 million in punitive damages. He’s beside himself because he says he discovered Sterling has actually had a boyfriend for years. He also believes that the money he was sending her was also going to him.

We don’t know if we would admit if we were taken this badly. For every guy who admits he had his watch stolen from his Strip hotel by his “date”, there are 50 that say nothing. But Brunner doesn’t care, leading to a Las Vegas stripper sued and a juicy headline.

Fred should have taken Chris Rock’s advice.

Shawn Tempesta is the co-host of Aimee+Shawn on 102.7 VGS in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also an Emmy award nominated television host. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Shawn writes about current events, education, funny and trending stories.

You Should Know These New Scams That Are Trending

Scams are a scary thing, so you should know these new scams that are trending. It’s easy to think that you could never fall for a scam, but the truth is that scammers are getting better and better and what they’re doing, so it’s getting more difficult to stay safe.

New Scams That Are Trending

Before we get into the new scams that are trending, it’s worth reminding ourselves of some age-old scams. Some scam artists just keep doing the same thing, and they keep getting successful results. The IRS has some good information out about tax-related scams and how to avoid them. On the agency’s official website, they warn that seniors are often targeted in scams. This was true years ago and is still true. On their site, they warn taxpayers not to fall for scams targeting older adults. “Scammers pretending to be government officials, aim to steal sensitive personal information and money,” they state. “By posing as representatives from agencies such as the IRS, or other government agencies, these fraudsters use fear and deceit to exploit their victims.”

Another big scam that’s been around forever is scammers claiming their services are needed to settle with the IRS and “that their debts can be settled for ‘pennies-on-the-dollar’ or that there is a limited window of time to resolve tax debts through the Offer in Compromise (OIC) program.” The IRS says “these promoters are often referred to as ‘OIC Mills.'” In a release, the IRS adds that an Offer in Compromise “mill” will “usually make outlandish claims, frequently in radio and TV ads, about how they can settle a person’s tax debt for cheap. In reality, the promoter fees are often excessive, and taxpayers pay the OIC mill to get the same deal they could have received on their own by working directly with the IRS. This takes unnecessary money out of the taxpayer’s wallet.”

“Too often, we see some unscrupulous promoters mislead taxpayers into thinking they can magically get rid of a tax debt,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement. “This is a legitimate IRS program, but there are specific requirements for people to qualify. People desperate for help can make a costly mistake if they clearly don’t qualify for the program. Before using an aggressive promoter, we encourage people to review readily available IRS resources to help resolve a tax debt on their own without facing hefty fees.”

Now, let’s move onto the new scams to avoid.

  • Watch out for the new 'check cooking scam'

    The AARP warns of a new scam called the “check cooking scam.” The AARP states, “In check cooking, thieves take a digital picture of a stolen check and then use commercially available software to alter it.” It can look super real, but it’s fake. So, how do you stay safe? “Consider using a safer payment method, such as a credit card,” they suggest.

    A check.

    Getty Images / Andrey Popov

  • Look out for the 'delayed-action sweepstakes scam'

    The AARP states also warns of a new sweepstakes scam where “instead of trying to get you to pay taxes or other fees in advance to collect the nonexistent prize, the scammers will ask for personal information so that they can validate you and set up the payout.” Just say no.

    Click and win on a computer.

    Getty Images / Torsten Asmus

  • Watch out for AI-powered scams

    These days, AI scams are big. Experian.com says today, scammers use technology to “write more convincing and natural-sounding phishing emails and text messages.” They can also “Impersonate the victim’s friend or relative and ask for money as part of a grandparent scam.” It’s scary stuff. Beware of anything that sounds too crazy, as these can often seem far-fetched, but AI makes them look real.

    A computer and AI.

    Getty Images / Userba011d64_201

  • Beware of student loan forgiveness scams

    Experian.com says that student loan forgiveness scams are on the rise. They note that, “scammers may contact you via phone or create phony application sites aimed at stealing your Social Security number or your bank account information.” Don’t give out your information. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

    Money and a graduation cap.

    Getty Images / Pla2na

  • Look out for the Paris Olympics scam

    This one is really wild. With the games on the way, scammers can use the games to scam you. The AARP states, “A scammer hacks someone’s email account, and shortly after, all of that person’s contacts will receive the same message — something to the effect of, ‘Hey guys, I’m over in Paris and my wallet got stolen! Can anyone please help me out by sending gift cards or a Venmo deposit?”

    Olympic medal and a man.

    Getty Images / Marcio-Binow-Da-Silva

  • The best way to avoid scams

    Whether the scam is new or old, the best way to avoid it is to stop and think about what’s happening. These scam artists are super good at what they do, but if you just stop for a moment and really think out any actions, you can avoid making a rash decision that could cost you.

    A woman thinking.

    Getty Images / Ridofranz

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