Ebay...what the?

[ags0702]

Has anyone noticed the strange user names that seem to bid on nearly every ski listed on ebay? Names like i***v, 6***6, names like these. Look at the bid history and these names show up all the time example: http://offer.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=300159032648

http://offer.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=160167502731

What is with these names? Are they people bidding up their own item? What gives with these user names?! They are everywhere! Just seems strange to me...

 

[tmetz]

It is so you, the looker, don't get there username... Its a wierd thing...

 

[SuperJETT]

They used to show the user name, then changed to bidder 1, bidder 2, etc, then changed again to cut out the middle portion. It's just to protect people.