The Umansky Law Firm

At least 17 people in the Miami area have been charged with fleecing rich out-of-town visitors by luring them to private clubs where they are fed alcohol at exorbitant prices – something authorities have identified as fraud. Florida law enforcement and the FBI allege the "B-Girls," short for "Bar Girls," charged the victims upwards of $6000 a bottle. One person is believed to have lost at least $43,000 through the scam.

According to police, all the B-Girls involved are from Estonia and Latvia. The private clubs they worked at were not open to the public and were allegedly set up to prey on wealthy individuals. They would troll Miami hotspots, looking for people who looked rich based on their clothing or accessories, then invite them to the private clubs. They would then rack up charges on the credit cards. The B-Girls allegedly kept 20 percent of the profits, the owners ten percent.

When the alleged victims sobered up and saw how much they were charged, many refused to pay. However, Florida law requires bar and restaurant patrons to pay first and then take it up with credit card companies later. The B-Girls or the owners of the club would sometimes call police when they were not paid. Sometimes they would take pictures of their targets while they were drinking as proof.

The B-Girls and some of the owners are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, a charge that can carry a 20 year prison sentence.

If you have been charged with fraud in Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umanksy Law Firm today for an initial case consultation.