Woman arrested in eBay art scheme

Wednesday, April 9, 2003 | 8:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Henderson woman who described herself as an art dealer was arrested Tuesday on charges of stealing $37,775 in an Internet auction scam.

Susan Christine Thomas, 49, was booked at the Clark County Detention Center on six counts of illegally obtaining money from out-of-state residents.

Deputy Attorney General Tracey Brierly said Thomas would place sculptures, statues and serigraphs up for bid on the eBay auction website. She told the winning bidders she would ship the art within seven to 10 days of receiving their payment.

She assured them she would send them appraisals and certificates of authenticity along with the art, Brierly said.

Individuals paid her between $2,750 and $12,650 but never received the art objects, the prosecutor said, and Thomas refused to provide refunds. Brierly said she did not know if Thomas actually had the art to ship.

If convicted on all counts, Brierly said, Thomas faced a maximum of 30 years in prison.

"Complaints of this nature have increased phenomenally, even with regard to such highly regarded sites as eBay," Brierly said. "When making large purchases on auction sites, consumers should use either credit cards or an independent third party escrow company to reserve funds until the goods have arrived in acceptable condition."

She said buyers should be aware that sellers who insist on a particular escrow company may have set up a fake firm for the sole purpose of taking the money and never sending the merchandise.