I have been purchasing Storage lockers since 1998. Mainly in California but now in PA. I was bidding on a unit and at the last 2 minutes it went back and forth an additional $1,200, and I didn't win it. 3 days later I was out of state and I got a phone call asking if I wanted the unit for my last bid because the high bidder's Credit card didn't work and they could not get a hold of him. And since I did actually bid that amount I told them sure. They charged my card and I bought the unit. Then I realized that the high bidder bidded me up to that amount and his bids should have been completely wiped out and my bid should have stood. So I paid an additional $1,200. So I chalked it as my fault. And let it go. Have to suck it up. Has this happened to anyone? So then I saw another auction come up at the same facility and looks like the same stuff, same boxes. Called the facility and found out it is the same guy. So the bid was up to over $500. I added to my watch list. I checked the next day and it completely disappeared. Called and was a mistake in the newspaper advertisement. So I kept checking the site and checked yesterday and it was not up. This morning i come in and it was on there for the same exact money and number of bids. So then it just brought the entire auction company back into question. False bids? Shill Bidding? Has anyone got a phone call later that high bidder could not pay? #StorageAuctions #Storagetreasures #Storage #Auctions I got a call from a District Attorney yesterday and told me they were investigating an Auction house for being accused of Shill bidding, raising prices up, and noticed that I was a victim on a particular auction that I bidded on and won some items. I told him I new it was happening but could never prove it. We as buyers trying to make a living just have to be as vigilant as we can to protect us and lower our risks as much as possible. One way, I told them they should copy lockerfox.com They show the user IDs of the bidder, and if a DA wants to investigate they can follow the user IDs and registrations. He made me aware that this has become a nationwide issue and many District Attorney's from various states are cracking down on Online Auctions and Storage Auctions. He asked for a list of the ones I used and of course I told them what I thought and by whom!