eBay seller prosecuted for bidding in own auctions escapes being jailed
By ANITuesday, July 6, 2010
LONDON - An eBay seller, who is the first to be prosecuted for bidding in his own auctions to boost prices, has escaped being jailed.
Paul Barrett, 39, a dad of one, who owns a minibus firm, admitted to 11 charges of so-called “shill bidding”, brought out under new laws to combat internet fraud, the Sun reported.
Barrett used two logins for the online site, “paulthebusman” and “shanconpaul”, and he would advertise under one and put bids in the other.
Items sold included two Mercedes, a pie warmer, a cash register, mobile phones, a Land Rover and a camera.
In one case, bidding was at 74 pounds just 35 minutes before the auction ended but finally reached 127 pounds.
Sometimes Barrett won his own auctions and would leave positive feedback about himself. Trading Standards uncovered the racket after a complaint that Barrett sold a minibus with faked mileage.
Judge Peter Benson told him at Bradford Crown Court that trust was vital on eBay.
He would have gone to jail if he had previous convictions or made big profits. Barrett, of Stanley, Co. Durham, must do 250 hours of unpaid work and was fined 3,500 pounds plus costs. (ANI)
