If you want to sell things on Ebay, you should follow the rules. Stiftung Warentest now warns: Anyone who makes bogus offers for their own articles in order to drive up the price even risks imprisonment in the worst case.
It’s common for sellers to bid on their own items on eBay to drive up the price. However, this so-called “shill bidding” is illegal and, in the worst case, can even lead to imprisonment, as the “Stiftung Warentest” writes.
A seller put his car up for sale on eBay. However, since the price fell far short of expectations, he himself or a friend placed a significantly higher bid. A short time later he offered the vehicle for sale again. The provider was then ordered to pay damages of 7,420 euros to the previous highest bidder.
Price gouging on eBay: Platform excludes convicts
In this case, the public prosecutor’s office surprisingly refrained from an additional charge of fraud. However, many legal experts are of the opinion that such a lawsuit against “Shill Bidding” could certainly be successful. In this case, there would be a fine or imprisonment of up to five years, or even up to ten years for tradespeople.
eBay itself temporarily blocks corresponding accounts in the event of a first violation. In case of repetition, permanent exclusion follows.
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