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HRS §445-24

Fake bids at auctions are illegal

This law makes it illegal to use fake bids at an auction. It covers people who arrange fake bids, auctioneers who raise bids themselves, and anyone who pretends to bid or buy. The section is narrow and only bans these deceptive practices.

everyone

The statute, as written — Fictitious bids

At any auction sale it shall be unlawful for any person to procure any person to make fictitious bids, or to conspire with any person to make any fictitious bid, or knowingly to permit any person to make a fictitious bid; or for any auctioneer fictitiously to raise any bid oneself; or for any person to act as a by-bidder, or what is commonly known as a "capper", "booster", or "shiller", or offer to make any false or fictitious bid, or pretend to bid for, or pretend to buy, any article sold or offered for sale.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.