topic Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding) in Buying

Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

heywhatyoulookingat — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 04:11:15 GMT

I have noticed an increasing number of fake bidders pushing up the prices of items. What are the buyers legal right in relation to getting compensation for the amount paid over the other "real bidders".

Ebay does not seems to want to do anything to stop this, even when brought to their attention. The seller should have the item removed immediately and also if the purchase is completed be required to repay the overpaid amount to the winner purchaser.

If seller want an item to sell about a certain price the a reserve should be placed on the item.

This is fraud plain and simple

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

lyndal1838 — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 04:18:41 GMT

If you report shill bidding to ebay they will investigate. If nothing is done it is because they cannot find a definite link between the accounts involved.

Shill bidding is a lot less common than you think....just because it looks like shilling it is not necessarily so.

And sellers cannot add a reserve price on ebay Australia unless it is a car, boat or caravan, or real estate.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

heywhatyoulookingat — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 04:33:58 GMT

Thank for your reply

I understand , and I have reported on many times and nothing happens. If a seller is selling a V8 Mustang and a Walking Frame and other items, and the same zero feedback buyer is bidding on both or all the other sellers items its SO obvious its shilling.

If not a reserve then a starting price they are happy to sell the goods for.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

sammydavis0424 — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 08:01:56 GMT

Ebay doesn't care at all, just like some items from businesses that are not as described. Mainly chinese sellers

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

belindabargainhunter — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 08:57:46 GMT

sellers can have a starting price maybe thats whatis needed for alot of sellers to stop problems with fake bids and sellers not going through with sales

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

walesforever2010 — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 03:29:27 GMT

Hi,

I am sorry this has happened to you. We have only been concentrating on the Jewellery Sellers in Queensland, not sure what you were bidding on. Truly eBay Do Nothing. We all have had a heart wrenching time trying to stop these Criminals, But eBay only give them Warnings & you will never ever get your money back.

When eBay was ran from USA then action would be taken, not now I am afraid. It is the fee's they are after.

I cannot name these sellers in Queensland, but easy to find in 9ct 18ct Gold Auctions.

Seriously I have many Long Term Sellers as Friends on eBay but they have cut back all auctions. Now maybe a few items as how can they compete against these Criminals. Yes it is Fraud as eBay USA confirmed.

I will Not list anymore on my other site, how can I compete against these criminals.

Yes USA set a reserve but in Australia we do not have this luxury, so these Sellers use Friends to Bring Bidding Higher & Higher.

At last count between them there are about 130 Auctions running in Jewellery Section. Out of that maybe they honestly sell 60[with shill bidding], the rest are relisted again.

We have no hope when eBay in the Phillipines ignore our calls for help.

I have been an eBay memebr since 2005 so do know what is happening.

Shame on eBay!!

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

aseosle — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 03:22:26 GMT

When selling at auction, do you get an up-to-date listing of current bidders and their bids?

I swear I just got done by a shill bid.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

lyndal1838 — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 03:32:41 GMT

Yes, you can see the current bidders list by clicking on (number of bids) at the top of the listing where you place your bid.

If you post the item title here someone can have a look and give an opinion as to whether there was shill bidding involved.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

spiderecologist — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 00:45:46 GMT

I too believe I have just been dudded by fake bidders.

It was a charity auction and to some exent the money is going to a good cause but I had newbies with 0 feedback push the price up from $400 to $575 which was my maximum bid.

Had this not happened I would have paid the $400 and added more as a donation.

Ebay is letting us all down, so too is Australia Post!

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

lyndal1838 — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 01:33:40 GMT

Can you post the item number here so someone can have a look for you. If there is a posibility of shill bidding the auction can be reported to ebay.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

ajarnjenny — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 02:53:34 GMT

If it was a charity auction, people probably joined just to bid on it to support the charity.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 03:45:48 GMT

This thread is over 12 months old

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

gunnaparty2 — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:25:40 GMT

That can't be true about the reserved price as just a couple of days ago I was bidding on an item i think it was a rc helicopter and it had a message saying "reserve not met" or something like that.Unfortunately when that came up I stopped biding and deleted the item from my list so I can't give you the details of the item but it definetly wasn't a car,boat,caravan or real estate

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

lyndal1838 — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:32:13 GMT

Was the item overseas?

There are no reserves on ebay Australia except in motor vehicles and real estate but they are allowed on other sites. They are actually used quite extensively in the USA. The UK only allows them on items above a certain value.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

ajarnjenny — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:40:36 GMT

Oh dear. Sorry.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

johnmadrx3 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 04:52:48 GMT

I'm seeing fake bidders all the time....especially a bidder that has 1 or 0 items to their name and they are bidding on a collectible item, very suspicious....some bidders i suspect as fake have a heap of bid retractions....that tells me therv'e won an auction but hadn't meant to win....and then allows their friend to relist it or try an suck in the poor real bidder that was pushed up but lost out.....such a shame nothing can be done about this.

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

davewil1964 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 05:01:40 GMT

You've already posted your complaint in Community Feedback. From where, sometime in the next couple of years, it will be moved to (probably) Selling by the moderators.

Was there any need to bump a SIX year old thread in Buying as well?

Re: Seller using Fake bidder to push up price (shill bidding)

lyndal1838 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 05:06:51 GMT

You cannot retract a bid after winning an auction.....it has to be done before.

If you suspect shill bidding you can report it to ebay and they will take action if they can prove it is shilling.