Posted By:
boxingcardmanIt is expressly forbidden in CA by Civil Code 1812.608(h):
1812.608. In addition to other requirements and prohibitions of this title, it is a violation of this title for any person to do any of the following:
h) Cause or allow any person to bid at a sale for the sole purpose of increasing the bid on any item or items being sold by the auctioneer, except as authorized by Section 2328 of the Commercial
Code or by this title. A violation of this subdivision includes, but is not limited to, either of the following:
(1) Stating any increased bid greater than that offered by the last highest bidder when, in fact, no person has made such a bid.
(2) Allowing the owner, consignor, or agent thereof, of any item or items to bid on the item or items, without disclosing to the audience that the owner, consignor, or agent thereof has reserved the right to so bid.
A violation of this subdivision is an infraction subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
With a penalty of $100, of course, the sanction is laughable but presumably a conviction on this basis would result in a civil lawsuit with a punitive damages claim.
Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc