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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man fined over fake eBay auctions | Man fined over fake eBay auctions |
| (2 months later) | |
| By Dan Whitworth Newsbeat technology reporter Paul Barrett sold and bid for his own items under different screen names | By Dan Whitworth Newsbeat technology reporter Paul Barrett sold and bid for his own items under different screen names |
| A man has been fined £3,000 and ordered to carry out 250 hours community service after fixing an online auction on eBay. | A man has been fined £3,000 and ordered to carry out 250 hours community service after fixing an online auction on eBay. |
| Paul Barrett, 39 and from County Durham, became the first person to be convicted of shill bidding in April. | Paul Barrett, 39 and from County Durham, became the first person to be convicted of shill bidding in April. |
| That's when online sellers bid on their own items to artificially bump up the price or get friends and family to do it for them. | That's when online sellers bid on their own items to artificially bump up the price or get friends and family to do it for them. |
| Barrett was sentenced after admitting 10 counts at Bradford Crown Court. | Barrett was sentenced after admitting 10 counts at Bradford Crown Court. |
| The minibus hire firm boss pleaded guilty after an investigation by North Yorkshire Trading Standards found he had bid against himself on several items, including a pie and pasty warmer on sale for £127. | The minibus hire firm boss pleaded guilty after an investigation by North Yorkshire Trading Standards found he had bid against himself on several items, including a pie and pasty warmer on sale for £127. |
| Mr Barrett told the court that he didn't realise the practice was against the law. | Mr Barrett told the court that he didn't realise the practice was against the law. |
| href="/news/10494724" title="Catching online auction cheats">BBC News: How do you catch online auction cheats? | |
| 'Happens regularly' | 'Happens regularly' |
| Critics of eBay say shill bidding is a widespread problem on the site. | Critics of eBay say shill bidding is a widespread problem on the site. |
| eBay spokesperson Vanessa Canzenni denies that not enough is being done to prevent it. | eBay spokesperson Vanessa Canzenni denies that not enough is being done to prevent it. |
| She said: "We spend £6 million every year to try and stop shill bidding from happening. | She said: "We spend £6 million every year to try and stop shill bidding from happening. |
| Paul Barrett claimed he was not aware he was acting illegally by shill bidding | Paul Barrett claimed he was not aware he was acting illegally by shill bidding |
| "The fact that we're the number one e-commerce site proves that customers can buy and sell with confidence." | "The fact that we're the number one e-commerce site proves that customers can buy and sell with confidence." |
| She also claims eBay is able to spot when shill bidding is happening, although wouldn't provide any details about how that's possible. | She also claims eBay is able to spot when shill bidding is happening, although wouldn't provide any details about how that's possible. |
| She added: "We have leading technology that enables us to detect when people are trying to do this." | She added: "We have leading technology that enables us to detect when people are trying to do this." |
| However, Jo Boutflower, the trading standards officer who brought the case against Mr Barrett, does admit it's very difficult to prove shill bidding. | However, Jo Boutflower, the trading standards officer who brought the case against Mr Barrett, does admit it's very difficult to prove shill bidding. |
| She said: "We have to have sufficient evidence or suspicion of an offence before we can exercise powers to get eBay records for example." | She said: "We have to have sufficient evidence or suspicion of an offence before we can exercise powers to get eBay records for example." |
| Regular eBay user Rezza Faizee, 27 and from Workington in Cumbria, reckons it's a massive problem and something that has happened to him when he was trying to buy a mobile phone. | Regular eBay user Rezza Faizee, 27 and from Workington in Cumbria, reckons it's a massive problem and something that has happened to him when he was trying to buy a mobile phone. |
| "It's definitely something that happens regularly," he admitted. | "It's definitely something that happens regularly," he admitted. |
| "I've had friends, family, and the same thing's happened to them. | "I've had friends, family, and the same thing's happened to them. |
| "I honestly don't know what you can do to tackle the problem, I honestly don't." | "I honestly don't know what you can do to tackle the problem, I honestly don't." |