Complaints Against Brenda Theos
Newark, Ohio 43055

bird33@alltel.net, b_theos@yahoo.com, beaniesr4us@yahoo.com, yes@wongfaye.com, 333555@wongfaye.com, justdealin@webtv.net

If you have questions about the complaint,
please contact the person who it was filed by.

I would like Brenda Theos investigated for selling fake beanie babies. She uses several aliases and overbids her own auctions to raise bids. She has several userids with Ebay and I'm not sure about others. She uses dinotrio, teddy9798, hill33pippen, and is presently using americantrio to sell on Ebay. She has been reported to Ebay by several buyers. She has a Yahoo id (beanies_r_4_us), she also uses bird33@alltel.com, she may have others.This woman is being reported to the Postal Service and Ohio Attorney General's Office.Thank you, Jeanne Palmateer

I wasn't sure if you had already been contacted about Brenda Theos....she is operating a huge scam on ebay and possibly elsewhere. I have been contacted by several fellow ebayers warning me about her. When I tried to talk with her she got really ugly with me. She lives in Newark, Ohio (at least that is where I sent my beanies to). I traded her 16 retired beanies and a htf buddy for what turned out to be a fake Libearty. I have a file on her. She is using all of these aliases and probably others: dinotrio, hill33pippen, teddy9798 and b333555 and bird33@alltel.net are all her.Some info:
Brenda Theos
212 N. Buena Vista Street
Newark, Ohio43055
e-mail bird33@alltel.net

I have MANY e-mails from her and to her saved in a file. Unfortunately, I only have paper copies of the e-mails regarding our trade deal because I just had no idea that she was a scam artist.She never indicated libearty might not be authentic.I have tried to get her to return my merchandise or return a portion of my merchandise and I would keep the fake Libearty. She refuses! And she calls me names and sends me nasty e-mails , etc. This woman is nuts. Her phone #'s: 740-345-2817 740-349-1919. I have filed a fraud report with www.fraud.org I have my hard copy if you need it. I have tried again today to resolve this directly with Brenda and she refuses to answer me. I have asked that she consider these three options: A) she return a portion of my beanies and I will keep the fake Libearty (remember that I sent her 16 retired beanies and a htf buddy for an authentic Libearty) B) she send me $50 to make up for the outrageous amount of my beanies that she traded from me for the fake Libearty C) she return all of my beanies and buddy and I will return her fake Libearty. I would appreciate any help that you can give me on this matter! This woman is just evil and has not aonly committed fraud, but she has now slandered me on Ebay! Thanks for any help that you can give us! The others whom I have been in contact with are: : SAG2015@aol.com [mailto:SAG2015@aol.com] MrCoinguy@aol.com; sflink@bellsouth.net; dhiebert@telusplanet.net; crest@arkansas.net; Jpinfo1236@aol.com; Mkdunn99@aol.com; bosborn3@earthlink.net; jonist1@juno.com; anafred@interisland.net; camsgram@home.com; Jmdacy@aol.com; gbdutt@pop.ctctel.com; mccordcapehart@dragonbbs.com; bori_c@yahoo.com; yavett@writeme.com; tapiaf88@marinemwr.or.jp; JSB697@aol.com; hoghead3@webtv.net; ez4u2c@midsouth.rr.com; LGregorian@aol.com; baitbandit@home.com

Please add my name to your growing list of people that have been taken in by Brenda Theos. I sent her over $300.00 for 2 libearty bears, and now that the truth is out she hasen't even bothered to send me fake ones she has just kept my money, and will not return any e-mails. I am sure you will be getting alot more warnings regarding Brenda Theos.Her address as follows: Brenda Theos 212 Buena Vista St. Newark, Ohio 43055

I am sure by now you have heard about this woman selling fake beanies on ebay and using multiple userids to improve her ratings and what-not. I wasn't one that got scammed, atleast not in that way. I had posted an auction and it sold to high bidder Brenda Theos - 212 N.Buena Vista St. Newark, OH 43055 (bird33@alltel.net )and after 7 busines days I contacted her and received one excuse after another about her payment - first it was something to the effect of she forgot, then it was something about it was returned to her by the postoffice as undeliverable and then it was a postage problem, never-the-less it didn't arrive and I left her negative feedback and she on me and I thought it was over. Then I was contacted by a group of people that all got scammed by her in a fake libearty auction. I explained that I didn't buy from her and told them what happened and suddenly I got involved in their plight to get their money back (which I am thrilled to do). In this process we found that she has several different accounts on ebay -
Contact information for teddy9798:
E-mail: b_theos@yahoo.com
User ID: teddy9798
Name: Happy Gilmore
City: Heath State: OH
Zip: 43056
Phone: (740) 349 - 1919

Contact information for dinotrio:
E-mail: adaniels@wongfaye.com
User ID: dinotrio
Name: Happy Gilmore
City: Heath State: OH
Zip: 43056
Phone: (740) 349 - 1919

Contact information for hill33pippen:
E-mail: yes@wongfaye.com
User ID: hill33pippen
Name: George of the Jungle
City: Heath State: OH
Zip: 43056
Phone: (740) 349 - 2187

Contact information for americantrio:
E-mail: beanies_r_4_us@yahoo.com
User ID: americantrio
Name: Brenda Theos
City: Newark State: OH
Zip: 43055
Phone: (740) 345 - 2817

Contact information for mexican-bear:
E-mail: 333555@wongfaye.com
User ID: mexican-bear
Name: Brenda Theos
City: Newark State: OH
Zip: 43055
Phone: (740) 345 - 2817

Contact information for hard2findbeanies:
E-mail: 333555@wongfaye.com
User ID: hard2findbeanies
Name: Brenda Theos
City: Newark State: OH
Zip: 43055
Phone: (740) 345 - 2817
Currently she is auctioning under "americantrio" ....Brenda emailed me lastnight with the following email:" Yavett, You really are an idiot aren't you? I am just so happy and want to brag some more about not sending your payment*brag brag brag* There I'm done now and do you like my usernames hill33pippen teddy9798 dinotrio and my newest yet americantrio. How are you going to prove I have all these names. Have Fun, Brenda" Shortly after that, I recieved this one from her: "Yavett, Hi again!!!! So are you getting sick of me yet, I sure hope so. I think my fake beanie auctions are going pretty good, what do you think? Just e-mailed you to tell you I have sucked in some more idiots like you!! Brenda The Great" We have all emailed Ebay's SafeHarbor and told them of what and who she is and have emailed all the people that have bid on her auctions for these fakes and all of them have either retracted their bids or they have refused to pay for them - we are all thankful that they have done this. We are now at a loss about what to about her and where to go from here. Is there anything that you can suggest or point us in the right direction?

They have NO reason to post my name on as a Bad Trader or seller. Please go to this place: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=128990907 See how I worded my auction? I did it to protect myself, please read everything I said I CAN'T guarentee authenticity, also NO refunds. One the trade which inloved 16 beanies+buddy, I will forward you the e-mail RIGHT after she recieved it. She said that she did some checking and found out it was indeed not authentic, which I had no idea. She said she felt she gave a lot for it, but she said sine it was for her own collection and not for re-saling that would be alright. I put I bought off secondary market, and I'm sorry if I have a life and don't have hours to check EVERY little detail, that is why I thought it would be easiar to say no refunds all sales are final. Up to that point I had never had ANY complaints, the only complaints I have gotten have been within the past 7 days, check for yourself on my eBay rating. That was before these idiots didn't learn how to read, bid on my auction andd thought they were guarenteed to get an authentic Libearty, which was totally not the case. You take a look at just about any rare beanie auction, most say can't guarentee authenticity, all sales are final with no refund. Go to eBay and type in royal blue peanut which are going for 200-400 I bet you those so no guarentee to authentcity all sales final and no refunds. I have sold a RB Peanut for $400.00 and said no guarentee to authenticity and he left me a positive feedback! I think it depends on the maturity of the buyer, you have to be smart!

I am Dea Draper and I received the message below from Brenda Theos (this wkend you rcvd complaints) after purchasing 1 doz. TY Moose in a sealed TY bag a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what is going on. My moose look good to me. But of course, can't sell them or even give them away now, just in case. These may be kids trying to destroy an absent parent's reputation -- I don't know. I have been corresponding with "Brenda" and the interactions are odd. The emails are of different flavors -- I think there might be a group of 3 in on this -- many of the fake names have "3" or "trio" in them -- maybe even someone with a genuine split personality.

i wanted to let you know that i received my libeartys today in the mail fake, fake, fake. i sure hope you can help us put a stop to stealing from honest people

I just wanted to update you on the Brenda Theos status ... Ebay has suspended her and all the accounts that we have found and apparently ones that we didn't find. I seem to recall them saying that there was 14 of them in all.

BIRD33@ALLTEL.NET
169.207.3.9 writes: Brenda is a very rude, trader. She trades fake beanies and then sends an email a week later to let you know that YOU SUCK and continues to tell you that you are a JERK and that the beanie she sent you was a FAKE. I traded a Germania, Princess Buddy and Spangle for her Libearty. At the time of the trade, she had approximately 150+ f/b on Ebay. We were trading on the same day, and exchanging tracking numbers. I sent her my tracking number and she never sent hers. It was a full week before I got my Libearty and she already got my beanies. I called her twice, no return phone calls, I emailed her several times and there were stories told. It was a nightmare...... When Brenda sent me the very rude message, I checked her refs at Ebay and there were five or six very bad comments about here trading and/or selling fake beanies. Brenda never mentioned to me that she could not authenticate Libearty. Today, I received info from Ebay stating that she is suspendedfrom Ebay. PLEASE BEWARE OF THIS BAD, RUDE TRADER.....

I also thought it might be a good idea to contact the Attorney General from the state of Ohio concerning the problem we have had with Brenda Theos. Perhaps they will investigate both Theos and Ebay and make someone accountable. I am sending her (the Attorney General of Ohio) over an inch thick stack of communication we've had concerning this scam artist.

I had a Trade with Brenda Theos(BIRD33@ALLTELL.NET) and she has stole my Beanies and won't send mine. I traded her Flitter,Lips, Birthday Bear, Schweetheat Buddy, Inch Buddy for a  MWMT Libearty.. I sent my package off with Delievery Conformation and I know she received it. I have not received my End of the Trade, and she will not answer emails, and has started blocking my emails... This person is A THIEF and it is time she gets caught!! PLEASE DO NOT DEAL WITH HER!!!!!!!!

I, along with many others I've recently learned, have been scammed by a Mr. Chris Theos of Newark Ohio. His web address is: justdealin@webtv.net.He has been scamming people via Ebay (my experience) under many, many seller names. He keeps changing them and he has been able to deceive Ebay (obviously that's not too difficult to do) as late as a few days ago...Please add him to your bad trader list in hopes of saving others both anguish and money. He (and his mother, Brenda) are now being investigated by the Newark, Ohio PD and the Attorney General's Office in Columbus, Ohio. Thank you for this opportunity to warn and help others. Linda Live Well, Laugh OFTEN, Love Much!

Please continue to investigate this person. I had mailed his a money order  for $65.00, for a Britannia Beanie Baby that he claimed to have available. Sent a form to be filled out, and said he would make it appear I had won an auction on eBay. I have not heard from him as to weather he received my money order, not have I received Britannia. I have tried several times to contact him. I do know that my money order had been cashed. Please try and  stop this person from any further dealings with unsuspecting people like me. Jackie Maraj (JMaraj@aol.com)

Ohio sues to block Web fraud
State accuses family of selling counterfeit toys through Internet auction
BY NATHAN CRABBE
Special to the Beacon Journal

COLUMBUS: Just days after hacker attacks temporarily disabled eBay, Ohio's attorney general filed a lawsuit alleging a Newark woman and her two sons used the Internet auction house to sell counterfeit Beanie Babies and other collectibles. The lawsuit comes as federal officials try to educate consumers about Internet fraud and a Cincinnati lawmaker proposes registering online vendors with the state. Brenda Theos and sons Shawn and Chris are accused of using Internet sites, including eBay.com, to sell collectibles that were either fake or never owned. The lawsuit is the first time the attorney general has sued someone for committing Internet fraud, said spokeswoman Jennifer Detwiler. Customers who purchase items through eBay rely on trust, e-mail contact and ratings given by other users to determine the legitimacy of auctioneers. The lawsuit alleges the Theoses used ``shill'' identities to post false comments about their products on the site and also changed their own user names to prevent past fraud from being associated with them. ``They were misleading others to believe they had a good reputation,'' Detwiler said. Neither the Theoses or eBay could be reached for comment. Detwiler said the attorney general's office received more than 30 complaints about the Theoses.

I won an auction on ebay (#221765575). It was for a beanie baby named Web the spider. I had chacked his feedback before bidding, and there were nothing but positives! The total came to 96.00 with shipping and handling. He contacted me politely with his address, to which I would send the money order for my item. I sent him the money order, and even after two and a half weeks, he claimed he had still not received it! After a month, he simply stopped contacting me (I haven't heard from him since january). I went back to check his current feedback, and saw five new complaints from others with regards to the very same situation!! I also noticed that he had been suspended from ebay! I got help from ebay about how to deal with mail fraud, and they told me to fill in a form with The National Mail Fraud Association (or something like that). They didn't halp me at all, and I haven't heard from them for months! I've phoned his home, and the line is cut off! I have NO way of getting him to talkto me! This person simply WON'T respond to ANY emails, and I know that he never will! I've informed him of the steps that I will be taking (according to the "how to stop bad traders" advice, but that doesn't make him so much as flinch! I know he has my money, too, because I've checked with the post office to see if the money order was cashed...and low and behold it was! I'm not the only one suffering from this man, and I really think something needs to be done! I want my money back...ebays insurance company wont even do anything for me! I sent them my case in the mail, along with the insurance form, proof etc., and it was sent on the first day of march...so they've been really slow in getting back to me!!! Besides, even if they DO get back to me, I'll still have lost 25.00, and a lot of my time! Please help! You're the last person to turn to, no one else has been able to hepl! Thanks for your time!
His name is Chris Theos
email address is bird33@alltel.net

Chris Theos
212 N. Buena Vista St. 43055
Newark, OH, USA