I bet there's cash inside! Or maybe there isn't. But what do I have to lose?

Though these auctions have been showing up on ebay thier TOS clearly says these kinds of auctions are not allowed. Many more of these would show up but they get reported and shut down.

Then why does eBay have a category just for these auctions?

I was just looking at that. Good question as it was against thier rules. If you read the auctions they all have disclaimers. I guess ebay has decided to let people get away with these auctions as long as they include disclaimers. The fact that ebay has a section devoted to this is pretty stupid considering it it borderline illegal.

edit: before you ask. These auctions are a gamble and that is what makes them illegal. People use the disclaimers to say it is not a gamble etc.. but when it comes down to it that disclaimer isn't good enough in some states. hence I don't see this fad lasting...

Yeah I bet its cold hard cash... all in old pesos or those damn canadian pennies

I read through a lot of the auctions and it appears that by far the vast majority are scams. There are a few that say they provide proof by posti cashed checks etc and that they will continue auctions with left over envelopes if needed. It is realyl easy to say that though and have the big moeny be in the last envelope so you sell enough envelopes to make a lot of money. I may do some of these auctions as a little experiment....