Collusion at Auctions

[Robert Steele]

I thought colluding at an auction was illegal? I see people colluding at Trustee sales all the time. They bid, then when two of them have run out of money they team up to continue bidding. Is that collusion? I also see them say things like "if you let me get this one, I'll let you get the next one". I'm pretty sure that is definitely collusion.

They do this brazenly in front of the Trustees. But the Trustees are not law enforcement and so they don't care. I'd expect that they have a fiduciary responsibility to get the best price and letting bidders collude is not conducive to that responsibility though.

Well now some of the Trustee sale clic are coming over to the Tax Sales and doing the same thing. Right in front of the Constable Deputies! They don't seem to care either. WTF?

Am I wrong about this. Is it totally legit?