seems the auctioneers stake out a few guys on cell phones to run up bids if only one guy in the crowd is bidding, sometimes if the guy on the phone has the last bid, the call is mysteriously dropped and the guy in the crowd ends up with the purchase, sometimes the guy on the phone gets the last bid and the lot sells to a farm 1,000 miles away which may not even exist.  Cell phones and internet have really changed auctions as you are dependant on the credibility of the auction business and sellers to know you are really bidding against other bidders, a lot of times the guy with the phone to his ear doesn't even have anybody else on the other end of the line, lets just say if they know you are after something or really want something you are pretty much toast as they will make sure to extract as much out of you as they can.