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Fraud
How is it that I have experienced several sellers selling in auctions, bidding against me to increase the sales price. They come in as a private bidder. They will bid against you until you no longer increase your bid. Then a day or 2 later they will send you a notification declaring the buyer backed out and now you are the winner demanding payment. This feels fraudulent. I've been on here about 20 years. There was a time I was selling on here. This is a new practice be permitted this is the third time this has happed to me and in every case it was a seller from China. The buyers are not backing out. The private bidder is doing that. The private bidder is the store owner. Is this practice within Ebay's guidelines?
lady_madonna
Mentor2 years ago@divinesourceconnection
It is not possible for sellers to bid on their auctions. It is called shilling, not allowed on Ebay and it is illegal.
If you receive a notice that the winning bidder "backed out" after the auction ended, you are NOT the winner and you are NOT required to pay.
You have no proof that the "private bidder is the store owner".
If you are seeing what you think is suspicious activity in auctions by sellers located in China, you can choose to not participate in those sellers' auctions.