Customers Still Wait for PlayStation 2s

The Dec. 25 deadline that an Internet game company gave as a due date for the shipment of Sony PlayStation 2 has come and gone and customers who bought the system from it apparently have still not yet received their orders, law enforcement officials said.

Early last month, authorities received numerous complaints from customers of Gametek who said they were charged but never received the system. The company, which has since been shut down, had accepted between 3,500 and 4,000 online orders for PlayStation 2. The customers were charged $349 for the system. Sony recommends a retail price of $299.

Federal authorities investigated and were told by the owner that the company was expecting a shipment of PlayStation 2 systems to arrive by Christmas.

Fountain Valley police set up a Web site for Gametek customers who believe they were bilked. Lt. Dan Bean said there have been 13,000 “hits” on the Web site, and no one has reported receiving their video system yet.

Paypal, an online financial institution based in Palo Alto that processed payments for the orders, also filed a complaint against Gametek.

Palo Alto Police Det. Jeff Mock said, “Right now we have about two to three weeks to wait until analysis of Gametek’s bank documents is complete.

“No charges have been filed yet, but if we are able to prove misappropriation in Gametek’s financial dealings . . . related to PlayStation 2, then it will show harmful intent.”