shill bidding and feedback manipulation

[rabbitearbandicoot]

I just found 28 sellers (there may be more) who are bidding on each others items and leaving feedback for each other.

Oh, and by the way, they are all selling the same fake gold jewellery.

I would have thought eBay would have some automatic facility to pick this sort of thing up??

[bsal6160]

Had a look rabbit. It would seem to be the SAME seller with different IDs. Manipulating feedback should be reported. Just ask for photos of the so-called gold hallmarks that are on the obviously polished brass jewellery.

[bsal6160]

Just looked at the Current Gold Price in Australia. Per gram it is $54.65. So, selling a supposedly 31.5g bracelet for $9.99 is just a little suspicious....when in gold price alone it SHOULD be worth over $1700.

[rabbitearbandicoot]

well, thank you for that bsal6160.

I have reported them to ebay. I guess we'll see over the next few days If ebay are serious about their site security.

Back to my original question : I would have thought eBay would have some automatic facility to pick this sort of thing up??

[rabbitearbandicoot]

well, bump, looks like you were right. I'm up to 76 so far. Yes, I know you were being sarcastic but I still loves ya.

[i-once-was-bump]

I lubs you too rabbit and you don't mind a bit of fun.

[i-once-was-bump]

re post #11, I have to wonder why anyone would buy all this fake gold and all I can ever come up with is buyer greed. They want to believe that they are the only one on eBay to find this great bargain for $9.99 (or whatever price) yet they know you can't buy gold for the price they are paying but their greed is such that they have to buy it just incase it is real gold.

Take away buyers' greed and avarice and you will get rid of the fraudsters overnight.

You can't sell rubbish without buyers buying the rubbish so a lot of buyers really need to have a good hard long look at themselves.

[drpeake]

Thanks Rabbit. I for one am glad of the heads up.

It adds to my learning of what to watch out for.

I have suspected FAKE bidders before to drive prices up.

Just a learning curve for me.

I am going through the "we cant deliver due to public holiday" routine out of korea at the moment.. That is NEXT Monday by the way, and shouldnt affect a wednesday payment.

Anyway thanks

[nawty_knights_inc]

I think eBay has enough automatic facilities and that is the problem, not the cure.

..... Computers are only programmed to see what cheats have already bypassed....

[case_cover]

if you thgink it is fake don't buy from them.. quiet simple really

[rabbitearbandicoot]

Computers are only programmed to see what cheats have already bypassed....

If I can audit the feedback system manually, I am sure  it would be a simple matter to write a program to do it automatically.