Around 40 years ago, I made an offer on a property that I wanted. I never heard from the agent, so I rang him and was told that the property was sold. I made enquiries as I was suspicious, and discovered that the agent had used my offer and bought the property for himself. I was furious. I contacted the sellers and they said that they didn't care, that a sale was a sale. Apparently the agent didn't have the funds and the sellers were forcing him to buy it. There was nothing I could do. I regret now that I didn't make enquiries about making this public and getting the agent to face the music.