I think this is just common to the auction section. It's a  strategy for them to start and it might be risky. It is just bad if someone would report or it eassily plotted. because it's really hard to sell if you are without a starting bidder.

And i don't think the right word cheating. Think of it as a risky strategy. Because if no one answered to your bid then your gonna have a bad time doing amends to what happened.