\u00ab\u00a0Grinch bots\u00a0\u00bb are designed to purchase large amounts of hot ticket items ahead of the holidays and resell them at much higher prices.<\/b>
\nSAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Tech experts say this holiday season, online shoppers are up against so-called \u00ab\u00a0Grinch bots.\u00a0\u00bb Described as automated computer programs created by people, the technology is designed to purchase large amounts of hot ticket items and resell them at much higher prices. The gift-giving season is wrapped up in what some are referring to as \u00ab\u00a0Cyber Grinch Greed.\u00a0\u00bbPrograms are purchasing popular toys and other products online, only to resell them at higher prices for profit.\u00a0\u00bbThese bots are so much faster than you and I are,\u00a0\u00bb Ian Sherr, Editor at Large for CNET told ABC7 News. \u00ab\u00a0And so if you’ve had this experience, if you’re after something that’s very popular and you’ve seen it in stock, you may have tried- you’ve gotten that into your cart, and then suddenly, it’s snatched away from you at the last minute. That is all these bots working.\u00a0\u00bbSherr explained that the bot technology makes it so these transactions take no time at all. It’s a frustrating, unfair fight that Sherr said is compounded by the pandemic, supply chain issues, and demand for things at levels that have never existed before. San Jose resident Danreb Victorio told ABC7 News that he’s currently struggling to get his hands on a Pokemon 15th Anniversary Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection box at normal value. He isn’t willing to pay scalper prices.\u00a0\u00bbThat retails for $120. And you’ll see it on eBay for over $300 even, $600 even,\u00a0\u00bb Victorio explained. \u00ab\u00a0So it’s insane.\u00a0\u00bbHowever, Victorio has been successful in the past. One change he found helpful was turning on push notifications for social media accounts known to announce item availability.\u00a0\u00bbYou know, if you’re going on a site like Amazon, you have the ability to do one-click purchasing,\u00a0\u00bb he added. \u00ab\u00a0Click on that and hope for the best. Like, I was able to get three PS5’s on Amazon, two on Costco.\u00a0\u00bbConsoles he’s secured for his friends.\u00a0\u00bbI get them to my friends and they’d pay me finder’s fees. And I’m like, ‘You know what? It’s okay. I just want to help you out,\u00a0\u00bb Victorio shared. Sherr with CNET said it’s often groups of people behind these Grinch bot, price gouging practices.\u00a0\u00bbSometimes teenagers who work together using these technologies to buy the devices and then sell them for a profit,\u00a0\u00bb Sherr told ABC7 News. \u00ab\u00a0They don’t have to flip burgers anymore to be able to get money to buy whatever games they want. So, it’s good on them, but it’s terrible for you and me.\u00a0\u00bbSherr continued, \u00ab\u00a0Because they’re not really adding much to the economy.\u00a0\u00bbHe said it’s important to note these practices are not illegal, though Congress is trying to fight this. Lawmakers introduced the Stopping Grinch Bots Act on Monday.\u00a0\u00bbSo far, it’s not clear if it’s going to go anywhere,\u00a0\u00bb Sherr told ABC7 News. \u00ab\u00a0It is starting to catch the attention of Washington. So maybe not this year, maybe even- maybe not next year. But at some point, this probably is going to end. It’s just about when.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n