If you're gonna SHILL...try at least to be smart about it!

[tazzieterror]

Bit of a PSA and lesson in poorly thought out cyber-crime!

I was watching this item the other day: Canon G15 Camera

It ended and then later on the same day was relisted for a BIN price of $300 (that listing now appears to have been removed).

Happened to check on another listing from the same seller, this Fitbit, and noticed the same buyer of the camera had been having a bit of a bid on that one too!

Seemed a bit shillish, so I contacted another eBayer I know who usually has some interesting insights to offer and asked their opinion.  They took a look, and noticed the winner of the G15 camera had left + feedback already AND that winning bidder is also following the seller!  Makes cross-referencing very easy!

Today that same seller has also listed a couple of used mobile phones here and here - I put a couple of bids on to see if some shill bids might follow, and sure enough they turned up!

Check it out and see what you think!

EDIT:  Oh...the best bit....check out the ID history of the shill account (noticed by my friend!)

[tazzieterror]

Ok, who's ready for another round of... 'Spot The Shill' ?!

Take a moment to carefully inspect these two completed listings from two completely different...*cough cough*...sellers:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/322767291784 - camera

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/332386909106 - speedlite transmitter

See if you notice anything interesting about the photos in each. Then take note of the bids placed second auction (the speedlite transmitter).

Here's another listing from the seller of the second item above:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/322767277538 iPhone

Once more, the bidding history is enlightening.  Further inspection of other completed items from those sellers shows more examples of cross-bidding between the two.

More names for your lists...