How to tell a eBay seller is bidding on own stuff

[n-b-king-69]

I just want to know if anyone else has noticed that when you watch an item for ages like say 5-7 days and no one is bidding on it but as soon as you message the seller about the item or make an offer or bid on the item a mystery bidder with no feedback or ratings or recent transactions or a private bidder will bid on the item within couple of minutes and keep bidding to a certain price 

to me that's the seller bidding on his own item himself or a friend is .

I know it's against the rules to do so but I don't t see eBay actually doing anything about it . 

it's the same as an item your watching or bidding on will sell to someone else but then within 12 hours it will be back on eBay stating relisted due to non payer but this will happen a couple of times in a couple of days on the same item .

there should be a way to stop this I think when you sign up to eBay you need to provide photo evidence of who you are to stop people having multiple accounts on eBay 

[edgeog]

It is obvious that the seller bid on his own item in an attempt to push the price up.

[michaelj1382]

Yes they do it all the time and nothing ever done about it 

[pumpeduse123]

I had this happen a few times but i bid won but told the seller to whistle
for his money. It was patently obvious there was something going on as the
item suddenly shot up to more than twice its original value very quickly
well before the end of the bidding. I guess some sellers think buyers are
an easy mark.

regards
Louie