It's almost like a conspiracy! Luckily, conspiracies never happen and all conspiracy theories lack credibility. 🙂 <end of sarcasm>

"At the height of the financial crisis, bargain hunters would gather each week on county courthouse steps to bid on foreclosed properties throughout Northern and Central California. The inventory lists were long, especially in hard-hit areas such as Sacramento and Stockton. But the auctions were generally short affairs — often because real estate speculators were illegally fixing the bidding process."

Read, listen or watch here: foreclosure-auction-scams