View Full Version : Steve McFadden [Psycho Penguin] traders – get your money back
BonzaiThePenguin
07-28-2011, 10:08 AM
Hi everyone, this is Mike McFadden (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20105977), brother of Steve McFadden (http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/100250-warning-scammer-alert-edit-confirmed/page__view__findpost__p__1341439) a.k.a. "Psycho Penguin". As some people already figured out, Steve actually passed away a month ago today. At no point did he repent for his misdeeds and I couldn't find any evidence that he was going to either.
Therefore I'll do it for him. Show me evidence that you were scammed by Steve McFadden at any point in the past 12 years or so, and I'll reimburse you for the trade via PayPal. I'll also take the time to answer any appropriate questions.
You can either email me (mike@bonzaigames.com) or post here, doesn't matter.
- Mike
How can I tell if I traded with Steve McFadden?
He had a few known addresses (http://gametz.com/forum/General/topic/258430.html) and sometimes went by Steve Saunders, and here are some of the aliases he used:
Psycho Penguin, RandyKOrton, Juan Dixon, KidRock101, MysticalGames, TooKool, WilliamRegal, lita, kidrock, gr81, mikesanders, DiscoFever20009, DoinktheClown, Felix Rivera, Joe Johnston, Steve Lawrence, and Seth Perkins
How can I show that a trade took place?
You may still have private messages or emails from before the trade, or records of reporting him after. If you were one of the people who publicly warned others about the bad trade I might contact you on my own at some point, but it's incredibly time-consuming trying to track down each user individually!
Don't most of the items I traded have wildly different prices now than compared to when I first traded them?
Good point. Just estimate the value of your items at the time the trade took place, and I'll send the money via PayPal when I can. Since I'm not filthy-stinking rich (yet... :)) I'll have to wait for money to come in from sales of my various apps and games. Also, keep in mind that increasing the estimated value from $40 to $50 is the same as scamming me out of $10. :angel:
How can I be sure you're not just trying to harvest my email address, or do something even more sinister?
I've been a reliable eBayer (http://myworld.ebay.com/bonzaithepenguin) for 10 years, I've been running a legitimate online business (http://ivideoapp.com/) for eight, and I have access to thousands of unique customer email addresses which are all linked to valid PayPal accounts. The only thing I can do with this information is send them money or pointlessly ruin my reputation.
Okay... but how can we be sure you're actually Mike McFadden?
My AtariAge account (http://www.atariage.com/forums/user/30414-bonzaithepenguin/) is linked to my Facebook profile (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20105977), and the fine folks here already did their homework!
I wasn't scammed by Steve, but I might know of some people who were. Should I tell them about this thread?
Yes.
portnoyd
07-28-2011, 12:35 PM
The first question is: How do we know you're who you say you are.
Oobgarm
07-28-2011, 12:54 PM
:popcorn:
BonzaiThePenguin
07-28-2011, 02:11 PM
The first question is: How do we know you're who you say you are.
Good question. This is me:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20105977
Kitsune Sniper
07-28-2011, 02:27 PM
I wasn't one of the people who was... scammed by your brother.
But you'll have to post a message there to prove that this really is you and not some jerk who's trying to cause trouble for his family.
BonzaiThePenguin
07-28-2011, 02:40 PM
But you'll have to post a message there to prove that this really is you and not some jerk who's trying to cause trouble for his family.
I just edited the About me section.
EDIT: Actually, my AtariAge account is linked to my Facebook profile:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/user/30414-bonzaithepenguin/
digitalpress
07-28-2011, 04:10 PM
I apologize for our skepticism but he certainly blew it around here and this actually seems like the type of thing he'd do on one of his "re-appearances".
On behalf of this community I'd like to thank you for trying to set things straight with everyone, and our condolences for the loss of your brother.
ghsqb
07-28-2011, 04:58 PM
This is either one of the ballsiest hustles ever, or one hell of a standup move.
I vote the latter.
Saw the same post at AA, I am sure it is on other forums as well.
I'm just curious Mike, how did you find out about Steves misdeeds (to use your word)?
A very cool thing for you to do, to try to make it right.
BonzaiThePenguin
07-28-2011, 05:22 PM
I apologize for our skepticism but he certainly blew it around here and this actually seems like the type of thing he'd do on one of his "re-appearances".
Not a problem, it caught me off-guard but then I realized it was just a testament to the damage certain people have caused this community. :(
I'm just curious Mike, how did you find out about Steves misdeeds (to use your word)?
I always had my suspicions, but I'd say the tipping point was in 2007 when I was visiting him and our mom and wanted to order some t-shirts online. I couldn't remember their address so I typed "938 Alexandria Place" into Google to see if that was it. It was (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22938+Alexandria+Place%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8).
kafa111
07-28-2011, 06:12 PM
:O i wasnt scammed by him, but this is probably one of the nicest things someone could do :D
fluid_matrix
07-28-2011, 06:37 PM
I typed "938 Alexandria Place" into Google to see if that was it. It was (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22938+Alexandria+Place%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8).
<<scrambles>> to type in my home address... whew. It's clean
If you had suspicions since 2007, why not do something about it then?
portnoyd
07-28-2011, 06:40 PM
I apologize for our skepticism but he certainly blew it around here and this actually seems like the type of thing he'd do on one of his "re-appearances".
That's what sparking my intentionally dry question. Last thing we needed is, as an example, another scammer using your brother's death to scam again.
If you had suspicions since 2007, why not do something about it then?
That's easy for us to say, much harder for a sibling.
BonzaiThePenguin
07-28-2011, 06:47 PM
If you had suspicions since 2007, why not do something about it then?
Technically, I did – I stopped talking to him for years and figured the legal system would take care of things. When we started talking again last year it was so I could give him a legitimate job as a game designer for an iPhone app I would make for him. I was going to get him to use the sales money to pay back the people he scammed... but after going through his stuff last month I found out he hadn't been working on it at all. Oh well.
Einzelherz
07-28-2011, 07:54 PM
Well he did live in Greenacres.... :)
(From Lake Worth)
Superman
07-28-2011, 08:35 PM
If you really are his brother and want to make things right, it seems like it might take quite a bit of resources to make things whole again for those who lost.
JSoup
07-28-2011, 08:38 PM
For what it's worth, I sent a message to a few FAQers on GFAQs that knew PP to see if any of them can confirm if Bonzai is who he says he is.
BonzaiThePenguin
07-28-2011, 08:58 PM
If you really are his brother and want to make things right, it seems like it might take quite a bit of resources to make things whole again for those who lost.
Bring it. So far I have zero responses so I'm holding up okay so far. :)
For what it's worth, I sent a message to a few FAQers on GFAQs that knew PP to see if any of them can confirm if Bonzai is who he says he is.
You can ask threetimes if you still need more evidence. Really sweet girl, I've been meaning to thank her for her kindness.
TonyTheTiger
07-28-2011, 09:36 PM
Sorry for your loss. My condolences to your family.
To make this effort for complete strangers, when you had nothing to do with it no less, that is top tier stuff right there.
GameNinja
07-29-2011, 05:31 AM
Go you! I wasn't scammed by him but many were and I am sure it is nice for them to see somebody coming forward to try to make some amends.
JSoup
07-29-2011, 05:49 AM
From what I gather, Bonzai is legit.
horseboy
07-29-2011, 09:49 AM
I am not sure why anybody is questioning this guy's legitimacy. He is offering to give people back what they lost. How could you possibly get scammed by letting him know what you lost? The worst that could happen is that he doesn't pay you back.
Kid Ice
07-29-2011, 02:51 PM
I am not sure why anybody is questioning this guy's legitimacy.
Because his story makes no sense.
He is offering to give people back what they lost. How could you possibly get scammed by letting him know what you lost? The worst that could happen is that he doesn't pay you back.
Or get a lifetime subscription to a gay porn magazine or who knows what else.
This whole affair is most likely prolonging the nonsense we all thought was already over.
And stickied no less.
Colorado Rockies
07-29-2011, 03:47 PM
Because his story makes no sense.
Or get a lifetime subscription to a gay porn magazine or who knows what else.
This whole affair is most likely prolonging the nonsense we all thought was already over.
And stickied no less.
Makes pretty good sense to me. He is trying to make amends with his late brother's victims.
Getting a lifetime subscription to gay porn mags or any other mags would mean that you would have to give him your credit card as well as your address. Obviously noone is dumb enough to do that.
Damaramu
07-29-2011, 04:03 PM
I can see why people are skeptical.
From what I've seen and heard of PP, his "brother" could be PP incognito, try to take the heat off himself by offering refunds.
Not that I'm saying this is what is happening here, but the thought crossed my mind and I'm sure the minds of others.
Emperor Megas
07-29-2011, 04:09 PM
Makes pretty good sense to me. He is trying to make amends with his late brother's victims.And there's nothing suspect about that. Well, I mean, besides everything.
Getting a lifetime subscription to gay porn mags or any other mags would mean that you would have to give him your credit card as well as your address. Obviously noone is dumb enough to do that.The way that no one was dumb enough to send him money and games? Oh, wait...
kupomogli
07-29-2011, 04:13 PM
Or get a lifetime subscription to a gay porn magazine or who knows what else.
So everyone in VBender should give him their address? Lifetime subscription to gay porn is all the dicks they could ever want.
Zoe F
07-29-2011, 04:15 PM
I can see why people are skeptical.
From what I've seen and heard of PP, his "brother" could be PP incognito, try to take the heat off himself by offering refunds.
Steve McFadden is dead. (Link (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/palmbeachpost/obituary.aspx?n=steven-j-mcfadden&pid=152303951)) He was certainly a scam artist, but I find it doubtful that he's continued to work as a reanimated corpse.
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-29-2011, 04:22 PM
Easy, easy everybody. Let's not let this thread degenerate so quickly.
Reasonable speculations by those previously affected by Psycho Penguin aside, why not at least allow Mike an opportunity to prove he's legit by making reparations with a member of the DP community.
If he sends some verifiable form of games, cash or loose women to anybody victimized by Psycho Penguin's "scamming" then that should be some means of proof, right?
Of course, again, speculation is completely reasonable all things considered, but let's just give this one a chance before we blow the thread up with too much nonsense.
The proof is in the pudding, no?
http://cdn.allleftturns.com/www/sites/default/files/articles/pudding.jpg
BonzaiThePenguin
07-29-2011, 05:35 PM
I added a third Q&A to my original post.
Colorado Rockies
07-29-2011, 11:14 PM
And there's nothing suspect about that. Well, I mean, besides everything.
The way that no one was dumb enough to send him money and games? Oh, wait...
Don't give him any credit card info and you'll be fine, genius.
Emperor Megas
07-30-2011, 03:16 AM
Don't give him any credit card info and you'll be fine, genius.If no one sent the scammer games or money, they would have been fine, genius. But they did, so they weren't. :|
As for giving him credit card information, I would never do anything like that -- but your statement wasn't about what I would or wouldn't do. It was a presumptuous blanket statement that no one would.
Bottom line here is it's NOT obvious that no one would do something as silly as send their credit card or other sensitive personal information to an anonymous internet persona. It's been done before, many, many, many times.
JSoup
07-30-2011, 03:38 AM
Getting a lifetime subscription to gay porn mags or any other mags would mean that you would have to give him your credit card as well as your address. Obviously noone is dumb enough to do that.
You realize that a large number, if not all, magazines have an option for 'bill me later', right? They just send an invoice to the name and address on file.
Greg2600
07-31-2011, 10:39 AM
If I were the brother, I'd just sell off the collection and donate the money to charity.
BonzaiThePenguin
07-31-2011, 01:47 PM
If I were the brother, I'd just sell off the collection and donate the money to charity.
There is no collection – I think he just traded the items in for cash as he went along. (We did donate his other things to charity.)
QuickSciFi
07-31-2011, 04:09 PM
I never met nor dealt with the guy, but if he was a shitty human being, you strike me as an even shittier brother. What kind of person does this to family? For any of you who've been questioning his creditials, there's your cue right there.
horseboy
07-31-2011, 04:24 PM
I never met nor dealt with the guy, but if he was a shitty human being, you strike me as an even shittier brother. What kind of person does this to family? For any of you who've been questioning his creditials, there's your cue right there.
This makes zero sense to me? Are you trolling hard or trying to prove some kind of point?
BetaWolf47
07-31-2011, 05:20 PM
I never met nor dealt with the guy, but if he was a shitty human being, you strike me as an even shittier brother. What kind of person does this to family? For any of you who've been questioning his creditials, there's your cue right there.
What the hell is wrong with returning scammed items? He's trying to make up for someone tarnishing his family's name!
Very interesting. I hope you're legit and do indeed make things right. While I'd like to think I'd do the same if a close family member fucked people over, I gotta admit I probably wouldn't.
Muscelli
07-31-2011, 10:05 PM
Unlike some others, I really appreciate you doing this as it really isn't at all necessary on your part. My condolences for the loss of your brother.
TonyTheTiger
08-01-2011, 11:55 AM
I never met nor dealt with the guy, but if he was a shitty human being, you strike me as an even shittier brother. What kind of person does this to family? For any of you who've been questioning his creditials, there's your cue right there.
I'm starting to think there are no people from Earth on the Internet. Normal human beings exist out on the streets under the blue sky while the Internet is a passageway into some Bizzaro Counter-Earth land where we open up lines of communication with wildly different non-Earth people.
Flack
08-01-2011, 03:44 PM
Has anybody taken the guy up on his offer yet?
horseboy
08-01-2011, 03:45 PM
Has anybody taken the guy up on his offer yet?
A dude over at AA has received a small refund already.
nimbus2
08-01-2011, 09:07 PM
I found this thread. Maybe you should contact some of these people?
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90082
Icarus Moonsight
08-01-2011, 11:19 PM
I'm starting to think there are no people from Earth on the Internet.
Nope, there isn't any people on the net. Just ideas. Good, bad, pretty, ugly... They're all internet.
A dude over at AA has received a small refund already.
Good job OP! Completely vague, but nice to hear.
BonzaiThePenguin
08-02-2011, 04:39 AM
I found this thread. Maybe you should contact some of these people?
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90082
I don't have access to the Buy/Sell/Trade section yet, but once I do I'll definitely go through and contact whoever is in there.
I never met nor dealt with the guy, but if he was a shitty human being, you strike me as an even shittier brother. What kind of person does this to family? For any of you who've been questioning his creditials, there's your cue right there.
What you said makes no sense and is a cue that you're pretty damn ignorant. What this does show is that his brother is a stand up guy and wants to make up for his brothers wrong doing. It's probably one of the most selfless acts I've ever seen coming from the Internet and kudos to him for stepping up and doing what's right.
stonic
08-04-2011, 08:25 PM
Agreed. He's making an effort to repay everyone who was scammed by his late brother, so let's put aside the torches and pitchforks and give the guy a chance to do just that.
Mattiekrome
08-05-2011, 07:12 PM
Just trying to tie up some loose ends. I do applaud you sir.
Necron99
08-05-2011, 09:21 PM
Has anybody taken the guy up on his offer yet?
I recieved $50 from him which is half of what I was scammed for. he left a note on Paypal saying he'll pay the other half later. So I'm happy he is legit and I applaud him doing this. I mean really he doesn't have to. Good Karma from me!
BonzaiThePenguin
08-07-2011, 08:53 AM
I don't have access to the Buy/Sell/Trade section yet, but once I do I'll definitely go through and contact whoever is in there.
Access granted.
old_skoolin_jim
08-08-2011, 09:25 PM
I was never scammed by the guy, nor knew of anyone who was, but it's pretty noble of you to try to set things straight.
My condolences on your loss. Hopefully any haters on this thread will soon calm the beef min.
old_skoolin_jim
08-08-2011, 09:32 PM
I was never scammed by the guy, nor knew of anyone who was, but it's pretty noble of you to try to set things straight.
My condolences on your loss. Hopefully any haters on this thread will soon calm the beef min.
spongerob
08-09-2011, 08:58 PM
I had no knowledge of this entire scenario, but I'm curious to see if anyone's taken this guy up on his offer and received anything. Anyone?
Frankie_Says_Relax
08-09-2011, 09:06 PM
I had no knowledge of this entire scenario, but I'm curious to see if anyone's taken this guy up on his offer and received anything. Anyone?
See here, one page back.
I recieved $50 from him which is half of what I was scammed for. he left a note on Paypal saying he'll pay the other half later. So I'm happy he is legit and I applaud him doing this. I mean really he doesn't have to. Good Karma from me!
spongerob
08-09-2011, 09:11 PM
Cool. To be honest, it doesn't automatically mean he's legit but the simple fact is, it's the internet and short of a miracle we'll never know. If he's refunding people, that should at least be enough to consider each individual situation resolved, respectively.
I hope everyone who was scammed has their money or goods returned.
JSoup
08-09-2011, 09:38 PM
Cool. To be honest, it doesn't automatically mean he's legit but the simple fact is, it's the internet and short of a miracle we'll never know.
For what it's worth, a bunch of internet peoples that are known on GFAQs as being trustworthy and honest have confirmed that Bonzai is who he says he is.
Necron99
08-18-2011, 09:01 AM
I recieved $50 from him which is half of what I was scammed for. he left a note on Paypal saying he'll pay the other half later. So I'm happy he is legit and I applaud him doing this. I mean really he doesn't have to. Good Karma from me!
got the other half!
ygbanga
08-19-2011, 01:06 AM
I was just payed back in full by Mike. This man proves that there are honest, stand up people out there. I cant praise him enough for what he has done. Truely amazing!!! Thank you Mike! Just know you gained some Samoan friends on the west coast! God Bless brotha!
ygbanga
08-19-2011, 01:07 AM
Cool. To be honest, it doesn't automatically mean he's legit but the simple fact is, it's the internet and short of a miracle we'll never know. If he's refunding people, that should at least be enough to consider each individual situation resolved, respectively.
I hope everyone who was scammed has their money or goods returned.
He paid me back every cent. He's 100% legit.
This is quite a noble thing that he is doing, and I think it is great that there are still some stand-up people in today's world.
Snapple
08-26-2011, 07:08 PM
This is a really great thing that Mike is doing, and guys like Kid Ice and Megas should apologize to him for calling him a phony.
Berserker
08-26-2011, 11:53 PM
This is a really great thing that Mike is doing, and guys like Kid Ice and Megas should apologize to him for calling him a phony.
Can you really blame them for being skeptical? My guess is they're as happy as anyone to hear people are getting something back, as am I. It's a Rare and Good Thing.
The Dord
09-04-2011, 03:30 PM
That's a cool thing to do Mike. Although I am a new time poster and a long time lurker, I've heard of your brother's exploits and it warms my heart to see that you're helping people out.
A rare egg on the internet indeed.
Emperor Megas
09-04-2011, 08:22 PM
This is a really great thing that Mike is doing, and guys like Kid Ice and Megas should apologize to him for calling him a phony.Um, I don't believe I ever called him a phony. IIRC, I simply explained why the people who were skeptical had cause to be, which they did. FWIW, I'm glad to hear that the guy is on the level.
Kid Ice
09-04-2011, 09:50 PM
This is a really great thing that Mike is doing, and guys like Kid Ice and Megas should apologize to him for calling him a phony.
I apologize to Mike for *implying* that he could possibly be a phony. It was nothing personal.
The thread never should have been stickied in the first place, as it implies a Digital Press seal of approval. I am unmoved in that opinion.
PapaStu
09-29-2011, 07:19 PM
I'm unsticking this, as it's been a while and there seems to be no real activity in the thread.
Daria
03-02-2015, 12:42 PM
Necro-bump!
I totally missed this thread, but I'm actually from Greenacres, I even met up with Psycho Penguin once from a craigslist post just to see to see how he was trying to screw me over. (His "excellent" condition PSX games turned out to be shitty loose disc-doctored discs) Today I was googling him to warn a local facebook group about avoiding Steve in the event he signed up. That's when I discovered his obituary and realized he is in fact quite dead.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sunsentinel/obituary.aspx?pid=152285155
Don't know if the offer would still stand 4 years later, but if you legitimately want to be compensated for whatever he stole you may want to try tracking down his brother. Can't hurt, in any event he's not Steve the Zombie. I don't think. :P
Edit: Read through the whole thread and realized this had been longed confirmed. Yes I'm lazy. Still surprised.
JSoup
03-02-2015, 04:45 PM
Yeah, we had a topic before this one talking about his death, then his brother popped in with this one.
Don't know if the offer would still stand 4 years later, but if you legitimately want to be compensated for whatever he stole you may want to try tracking down his brother. Can't hurt, in any event he's not Steve the Zombie. I don't think. :P
I haven't really spoken to a majority of the GFAQs contributor community in a few years, but there were people close to Psycho Penguin among them. Might be able to find someone to get you in contact if needed (I'm thinking threetimes, but I haven't talked to her in years).
Emperor Megas
03-03-2015, 11:28 PM
It's hard to believe this was like 4 years ago.
JSoup
03-04-2015, 02:56 AM
More telling is how many user who posted in this topic four years ago who aren't posting here any more.
Cornelius
03-04-2015, 05:38 PM
More telling is how many user who posted in this topic four years ago who aren't posting here any more.
Good point, JSoup. You should make a topic about that. ;)
JSoup
05-02-2015, 07:54 PM
Good point, JSoup. You should make a topic about that. ;)
I would, but it would just be locked for being 'mean' or something.