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April 22, 2015

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Bidding agents probed for car plate scam

SHANGHAI’S traffic authority is investigating allegations that some agents used hundreds of computers to bid simultaneously and walk away with about 1,000 vehicle license plates at the monthly car plate auction this month.

The city’s vehicle quota management office is working with the public security bureau and telecommunication management authority to investigate the backstage data of the Shanghai International Commodity Auction Co, which runs the city’s auction system, the Shanghai Transportation Commission announced yesterday.

The commission will reveal the result of its investigation as soon as it is completed, an official with the commission told Shanghai Daily.

“An upgraded auction system that can ensure the fairness of the auctions will also be launched soon. It is currently undergoing some tests and adjustments,” the official said.

The allegations were reposted widely on the WeChat platform shortly after this month’s auction on Saturday. It was alleged that three bidding agents used over 100 computers and some software to bid for the city’s license plates at the same time.

The posts included several pictures, reportedly taken by the agents themselves, showing numerous computers running the auction system in a room.

The agents claimed they had successfully managed to bid for 985 car plates this month.

“High technology is our secret,” an agent was quoted as saying in the post.

The city’s monthly car plate auction set a record this month with massive turnout caused by restrictions on vehicles registered outside the city. Only one in every 18 bidders won the bidding.

A total of 152,298 people registered for the sale — 19,608 more than in March — in the hope of landing one of the 8,288 plates up for grabs. The success rate was one of the lowest ever at just 5.4 percent.

The average winning bid on the day increased by 5,929 yuan (US$960) from last month to 80,759 yuan.

The commission official said the investigation will be focused on the IP address of the bidders.

“If the bidders were found truly using illegal means, they will face legal charges,” the official said.

Many local tech-savvy individuals are cashing in on the huge demand for vehicle license plates in Shanghai by offering their services as bidding experts. The bidding charges have surged to about 30,000 yuan this month.




 

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