Anyone from Long Island here?

I'd like to take a shot on bidding on a few lockers in the future. However, I attended only one storage auction in Suffolk County. I didn't bid on anything, but I heard from numerous people since that the particular one I went to at this facility is staged. I don't know how exactly, but I think I read the contents either belonged to or where already picked through by the people holding the auction. Oddly, I called the facility the day of the auction and the person who answered said they knew nothing about it and that it was a third party holding it.

I'd like to know which places/people to avoid before I do this.