Steven Salmon is a Scammer
The Games and Payments
On July 5, 2022, on the KLOV internet forum, Steven Salmon from the Portland OR area, as user Steven501, began posting various sale ads for over 150 games in all (video games and pinball machines). He also posted at least 4 ads for arcade game printed circuit boards (PCBs). Some of Steven's threads have been moved to a section of the forum which only members can view, so not all links are publicly available; but they may be viewed here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
The amount of games, titles listed and their price (some were quite valuable and rare) did raise concern among some of the members as Steven did not have much feedback, though he had been a member for years. Some members came forward and vouched for him and his collection (even the broker for the shipping company stated they had transported many games for him). However, it was later discovered that these members had only sold games
to him, Steven had not
sold anything previously, and some tried to distance themselves from their endorsement. It was also later learned that in these sales, Steven would throw around cash and often pay more than the current value of those games; it was suspected that some of the sellers who vouched for him were puffing him up in the event he would come looking for more games in the future. Notice the message on the right mentions Kris having more information;
Kris Donohoo is a friend of Steven's that will figure into this scam later.
Steven listed arcade video games for sale over multiple posts that have since been edited, moved or deleted. What follows is the most complete list available, along with his asking prices.
7/5/22
Arm Wrestling (Nintendo) $4900
Eeekk $3500
Koozmik Kroozr (with 2 spare working boards) $10000
Death Race $5800
Reactor $4000
Peter Pack Rat $3000
Chiller (with 440 board) $4000
Ice Cold Beer $5000,
Warlords (cocktail) $5000
Discs of TRON (upright) $7000
Fonz $6000
Pigout $5000
Pigskin $4000
Forgotten Worlds $3300
Journey $5500
7/5/22 (2nd post)
Paperboy $3500
Escape From the Planet of the Robot Monsters $3000
Timber $3500
Tapper $2900
Qbert $2400
Qubes $2900
Star Wars $2800
Chicken Shift $2900
Snacks n Jaxson $2900
Turkey Shoot (with extra board) $5800
Food Fight $4900
Nightslashers $3000
Killer Instinct 1 $1800
Killer Instinct 2 $2000
Alien Syndrome $2800
Zoo Keeper $2500
R-Type 1 $1800
R-Type 2 $1800
R-Type Leo $2300
Satans Hollow $2000
Space Dungeon $3500
Ghostbusters $2500
7/6/22
Super Punch Out $2500
New York, New York $1500
Juno First $2500
Mad Planets (not original PCB) $2500
Spy Hunter $2800
Star Wars Trilogy $1500
Pac Man Battle Royale $5000
Gauntlet 1 $2000
Gauntlet 2 $2000
Donkey Kong 3 (red cab) $1500
7/6/22 (continued)
APB (with seat) $2500
Bugertime $1900
Eyes $1500
Tutankham $1500
Bosconian $1900
Pacmania $1400
Warlords (upright) $2000
Marble Madness $2400
Punisher $2000
Rampage $1900
Subs $2400
Indiana Jones $1500
Road Runner $2000
Black Widow $2500
Jr Pac Man (in Mappy cab) $2300
Mappy $1800
Bubbles $2750
720 $2900
Smash TV $2000
Total Carnage $2000
Turtles in Time $2000
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles $2000
X Men $1800
Tempest $1900
Viper Phase 1 $1800
Galaga 88 $1500
Dragon Spirit $1700
Splatterhouse $1500
Moonwalker $3000
Bionic Commando $2000
Major Havoc (in Space Duel cab) $2900
Super Contra $1500
Ghouls n Ghosts $1900
Ghosts n Goblins $1900
Mario Bros (widebody) $1800
Donkey Kong (red cab) $1800
Robotron 2084 $2000
Sinistar $1800
Domino Man $3500
TRON $2500
Willow $2000
Blasted $2000
Walking Dead $6500
Cowboys of Moo Mesa $1800
Sunset Riders $1800
Frenzy $1300
Punch Out $1800
Popeye $1300
Donkey Kong Jr $1500
Donkey Kong 2 $1200
Excitebike $1200
Joust $1600
Wizard Fire $1500
Gate of Doom $1000
NARC $1500
Dig Dug $1300
7/17/22 (some revised prices, some new listings)
Eeekk $3000
Kozmik kroozr (without 2 spare boards) $6800
Death Race $4300
Reactor $3000
Circus Charlie $2000
Flicky $2300
Mad Planets $2000
Granny and the Gators $3000
Pac Man Battle Royale $4000
Combat $2000
Battletoads $1800
Pigout $3500
Boulder Dash $2200
Super Bagman $2500
Speed Freak $2400
Pooyan $1900
The Adventures of Robby Roto $1900
Victory $3000
Carnevil $1300
Boot Hill $2000
Gain Ground $2600
Cliff Hanger $3400
Badlands (Konami) $2700
Krull $1700
Eliminator $2200
Crater raider $1800
Mazer Blazer $2600
Rootbeer Tapper $2600
Rampart $1700
Nibbler $1700
Red Tent $1700
Thayers Quest $3300
Trog $2100
Mr. Do $1900
Monster Bash $3000
Separately, he listed at least Journey, Arm Wrestling (Nintendo) and Tapper PCBs (video game circuit boards).
The following pinball games were also listed at some point:
Bad Catz (beautiful all original) $6500
Bonzai Run $8300
Batman Dark Knight (HUO) $5500
Deadpool Premium $8300
Demolition Man $4000
Funhouse $6000 (with Rudy’s Nightmare $8000)
Ground Shaker (beautiful all original) $3500
Phantom of the Opera $4800
Revenge of Mars $3900
Simpsons Pinball Party $7500
South Park (HUO) $4500
Spirit (fully restored) $6500
Star Wars Premium (HUO) $7900
Theatre of Magic (HUO) $8500
Twilight Zone (HUO) $8500
Whitewater $6500
When asked, Steven provided photos of the games, which can be seen in the slideshow below. Steven claimed that the majority were “all original, 9+ condition” games. With the pictures he provided, backed up by those who vouched for Steven, there was nothing too suspicious at the time.
Steven also made it known he would be selling more games, and that led to some buyers privately asking for specific games that had not been listed, which he also sold. This allowed him to sell games that those who vouched for him may have known he did not actually have, but since they were brokered in private, there was no way to know. This included the following games: Arabian, Bagman, Barrier, Boxing Bugs, Bull Fight, Choplifter, Dark Planet, Daytona USA, Demon, Fast Freddie, Ladybug, Mach 3, Mouse Trap, Off the Wall, Virtua Racing and War of the Worlds.
When requested, Steven also sent video of the games.
One key to this scam was that Steven insisted on payment via wire transfer. Recent changes to tax reporting by Paypal and other online payment systems led to some sellers on KLOV not to accept those anymore, leaving only checks, wire transfers and cash. As many buyers already deal in cash (though in person), along with the positive comments on Steven, many felt comfortable sending these wire payments, which turned out to be a mistake. Within a couple weeks, Steven told buyers to wire funds to a second account. Steven stated this was because he was worried about receiving too many transfers to the first account. Later, when buyers attempted to get their money refunded, it was impossible since funds were wired. All buyers were told the money was not available and some stated Steven’s banks informed their bank that his accounts had been closed.