Diamonds aren’t a stripper’s best friend.
The Scores jiggle joints have been smacked with a federal lawsuit for skimping on tips paid in “Diamond Dollars” – phony cash that patrons buy with a credit card and use for everything from drinks to gratuities to lap dances.
The class-action suit, filed by former bartender Siri Diaz, claims managers at the famed mammary mecca are fattening their wallets by keeping a cut of the tips for strippers, waitresses and other staff, while paying workers below minimum wage.
“There is so much money flying around. It seems like a money grab for Scores to take tips away from the workers who contribute so much to the club’s success,” said attorney Justin Swartz, who represents Diaz.
He said Scores double dips when customers want to use a credit card at the club, tacking on a $20 surcharge for every $100 in Diamond Dollars a patron buys and then keeping another 10 percent cut when staffers redeem the funny money.
On top of the tip and wage scams, Swartz said the club forces strippers, bartenders and other staff to shell out cash for their own skin-baring uniforms.
Diaz, of West New York, N.J., claims she worked for below minimum wage and was denied overtime pay while working at the West 28th Street location.
Contacted about the lawsuit, a Scores spokeswoman said, “We’ve been made aware of it. We have not seen it, so we have no comment.”