CUSTOMERS of the internet auction site eBay are being defrauded by unscrupulous dealers who secretly bid up the price of items on sale to boost profits.

An investigation by The Sunday Times has indicated that the practice of artificially driving up prices — known as shill bidding — is widespread across the site.

 

Last week one of the UK’s biggest eBay sellers admitted in a taped conversation with an undercover reporter that he was prepared to use business associates to bid on his goods for him.

Our inquiries found evidence that a number of businesses — ranging from overseas property agencies to car dealerships — have placed bids on their own items using fake identities.

The cases raise questions about whether eBay, the world’s biggest auction site, is doing enough to protect consumers.

 

Shill bidding is against eBay rules and is illegal under the 2006 Fraud Act. However, the resulting higher prices on the site boost the value of eBay’s share of the sales.

 

Last November eBay changed its rules to conceal bidders’ identity — making it even more difficult for customers to see whether sellers are bidding on their own lots. Since its launch seven years ago, eBay’s UK website has attracted more than 15m customers. It sells more than 10m items at any given time.

some of my m8s sell coins (found with metal detectors) on ebay, they deliberately bump up eachothers finds to get a better price off other punters..

It's disgraceful really, if this were to happen in Sothebys or Christies with sellers putting ringers into the auction house, the Police would be called in, absolutely no question of that - it's fraud, pure and simple.... Why should E-Bay sellers get away with this sh!t...? Sorry Rob, but what your friends are doing is totally wrong, oaky, so it's just a few coins, but where does it end...?

Not surprised at all about this, I thought everybody did it

 

I've done it before for a mate but we're talking about a 2nd hand car worth no more than a grand, not antiques worth thousands

 

It's easy money for them, so no, no surprise at all

one reason I do not like eBay or other auctioning sites. But how do you police it :unsure:

one reason I do not like eBay or other auctioning sites. But how do you police it :unsure:

 

That's the problem Matt, it's absolutely fukkin' impossible to.... -_-

 

It's disgraceful really, if this were to happen in Sothebys or Christies with sellers putting ringers into the auction house, the Police would be called in, absolutely no question of that - it's fraud, pure and simple.... Why should E-Bay sellers get away with this sh!t...? Sorry Rob, but what your friends are doing is totally wrong, oaky, so it's just a few coins, but where does it end...?

:o ah, running the bidding is normal practice for all auctioneers to my understanding.

 

I have a friend who shill bidded and was reported and his account was suspended.