The Financial Post reports in its Saturday edition that, calling himself the "frack master," Texas businessman Chris Faulkner charmed hundreds of investors and gullible news organizations into believing he had extensive experience in energy markets. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post says, however, it turns out he had none and that at least $30-million (U.S.) he raised was spent on strippers, escorts, lavish vacations, and other personal expenses, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Faulkner's alleged transgressions include using money from his Breitling Energy Corp. to pay off an American Express card -- what he referred to as his "whore card" -- the SEC said in a complaint filed Friday. Mr. Faulkner and seven others, including Breitling chief operating officer Jeremy Wagers, defrauded investors out of about $80-million (U.S.) over the course of the past five years, the SEC said. Mr. Faulkner, Breitling's chief executive officer, and other executives told investors their money would be used to drill oil wells. Part of his pitch was a carefully managed profile, appearing on CNBC, CNN, Fox Business News and hosting a weekly radio show in Dallas. He has also been interviewed on Bloomberg TV.