It can be exciting to get an offer on your domain name or have somebody show interest in your domain name. If you are contacted, the next thing to find out is if the contact is Real or Fake.
A very well known FAKE is if you are contacted via Email and you see lines in the email that are like this:
“This is not our main business but we make money on buying/selling domains.”
“Your domain name has been found online.”
If you reply, the second email will contain lines like the following:
“Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals.”
“Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary”
Many times you will get an email that is asking for a price on your domain. You can reply back with What Ever Price you want and they will reply back but they want to “Evaluate the domain” to make sure they are getting a fair price.
This is where the scam part comes in… to get an appraisal for your domain name and request the appraisal be done either through a company they suggest or put a company name down with a link. I have seen it several times that they refer to a Blog post that is on a site called domainblog.007sites.com
The scam is, they OWN the appraisal company and are NOT interested in your domain name. They simply want to make money off the domain name appraisal and never held interest in your domain name. Once you get an appraisal, you will be out your money and they will no longer hold interest in that domain name!
I have mainly seen these type of emails go to New Registrations. They simply get a list of domain names that were newly registered and target these people. I have also seen this scam be sent to people who newly list domain names on Sedo.
The Signature on the email is also a give away and would look similar to something like this:
George Sterling
President
PHR LLC
Or
Regards,
Michael E Myers
Vice President
OB Securities LLC
The latest one to be going around is from TheOnlineBrokerage.com . Some other domains used are: EasyNameSale.com, EliteInvestment.net , ToughGuy.net ,phreaker.net .
Some actual emails from these appraisal scams look like this:
New One as of 1-8-2009
‘Hello,
My name is Tom Myers and I’m interested in the domain mentioned in the
subject line. I’m a cybersquatter but never use domains in bad faith etc.
Working according the law is my policy.
Some of my clients are interested in your domain. Please let me know your
price. If you have other good names just send me the list with prices.
Looking forward to do business with you.
Regards,
Tom Myers
Independent Cybersquatter”
Holiday one,
“Hello,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Your domain name has been found online.
We are very interested in it. Please let us know your price.
This is not our main business but we make money on buying/seling domains.
This is a profitable business.
Looking forward to do business with you.
Regards,
Michael E Myers
Vice President
OB Securities LLC”
OR
“Hello,
Please email a price you can accept for your domain name.
Our company develops software for multiple video systems. Domain names is not our business but a new way to earn on reselling. We are going to buy domains to resell them at higher prices. Our company has a large database of clients interested in good domains.
If you offer more domains for sale with good reselling potential please email us your list.
Looking forward to do business with you.
Regards,
Jacob Cohen, Ph. D.
CEO
TGN Technologies”
If you happen to get an email like this, simply DELETE it. If you are unsure if it’s a Real Person interested in your domain name, just be sure not to PAY for anything like an appraisal or do not visit a Link if they provide one in an email. If a buyer is interested in your domain name, THEY should be the one ordering an appraisal if they want one. Not You!
