E-Commerce Times Talkback

Re: Two Men Plead Guilty to eBay Art Scam
Posted by: ECT News 2001-04-18 21:10:25

See Full Story

Two men pleaded guilty Tuesday in Sacramento, California
federal court to scamming eBay users out of
US$450,000 over two years by self-bidding on their own auctions
to drive up prices.

Sacramento attorney Kenneth Walton and Scott Beach, of
Lakewood, Colorado, were indicted in March on
charges of wire and mail fraud
for using self-bids, or shills, to illegally inflate the prices
of more than half of the 1,000 auctions they hosted at eBay
from November 1998 to June 2000.

Re: Two Men Plead Guilty to eBay Art Scam
Posted by: dustison 2002-02-17 14:52:11 In reply to: ECT News

I have recently discovered this same similar thing goes on here at art/craft fair. Fraudulent art activities. Sellers are selling reprinted art, placing paint on them and calling them originals. They go as far as to even forge signature of some unknown artist. I just in the past day or two discovered this and am planning to put some of this activity to rest. The promoters of these shows are somewhat responsible. Do you agree?

The reason I am writing about this is because my wife is an artist who works so hard along with many of our friends. This sort of activity gives artists less of an opportunity to offer their work. The fraudulent paintings sell for 35.00 up to 175.00 so far. Your feedback is encouraged.
Thank you

Re: Two Men Plead Guilty to eBay Art Scam
Posted by: PPT 2001-04-19 11:51:12 In reply to: ECT News

Has eBay added cross check programs to verify the validity of information entered at the time of membership registration?
Has eBay added programs that will automatically NARU a newer ID when the older ID (linked by eBay's own ID History files) is NARU'd?
Why aren't "all accounts" that have been proven to be guility of shill bidding permanantely suspended?
Why doesn't eBay report "all" of this type fraudulent activity to the authorities?

Re: Two Men Plead Guilty to eBay Art Scam
Posted by: celticsfan 2001-04-19 13:12:55 In reply to: PPT

give them a chance! eBay has done a lot for small business people and is probably working on all of the stuff you described right this minute!

Re: Two Men Plead Guilty to eBay Art Scam
Posted by: Incedulous 2001-04-25 11:15:20 In reply to: celticsfan

The story says this was happening over a period of years... How long do you want to give Saint Ebay?

If it would make them more money they would stop it.. if they havent stopped it chances are it is making them money...