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Bank Inquiry Uncovered Spitzer's Prostitution Link

A routine financial inquiry led to the discovery of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's involvement in a high-priced prostitution ring. How do banks scrutinize the transactions of their customers, particularly "PEPs" — politically exposed people? Thousands of activities are flagged each day, but far fewer are deemed suspicious enough to be passed on to the IRS for further investigation.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Adam Davidson is a contributor to Planet Money, a co-production of NPR and This American Life. He also writes the weekly "It's the Economy" column for the New York Times Magazine.
As special correspondent and guest host of NPR's news programs, Melissa Block brings her signature combination of warmth and incisive reporting. Her work over the decades has earned her journalism's highest honors, and has made her one of NPR's most familiar and beloved voices.
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