Shill Bidding Policy
Shill bidding happens when anyone — including family, friends, roommates, employees, or online connections — bids on an item with the intent to artificially increase its price or desirability.
Make sure you follow these guidelines. If you don’t, you may be subject to a range of actions, including limits of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account. Shill bidding is also illegal in many places and can carry severe penalties.
Guidelines
| Restricted | Bidding an item from someone you know, as long as you don't intend to artificially increase its price or desirability. | |
|---|---|---|
| Not Allowed | Bidding on your own items with intent to artificially increase its price or desirability. |
Shill bidding is unfair to buyers and it is illegal in many places in the world. We have this policy to discourage shill bidding and to make it clear what can happen when people don't follow these guidelines.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
- Listing or auction cancellation
- Limits on account privileges
- Account suspension
- Referral to Law Enforcement