Your beliefs do not make it scamming, dishonest or untrustworthy behavior.
No, but being against the law does.
I would draw everyone's attention to the
Uniform Commercial Code of the United States, which states in section
2-328 (4):
If the auctioneer knowingly receives a bid on the seller's behalf or the seller makes or procures such a bid, and
notice has not been given that liberty for such bidding is reserved, the buyer may at his option avoid the sale or take the goods at the price of the last good faithbid prior to the completion of the sale.
[Emphasis added]You did not provide advance notice, therefore you acted unlawfully.