You need to read this if you use SNAPNAMES!

[areav]

What happens if you try and buy your own name?? I wonder what they tell you?

[seeker]

they got your email either by luck, or, most probably because you own the same or similar domain in another extension (please let us know, cause I bet thats it).

I find their spamming services amazing, because they always send me emails about domains I can buy from them that I either am at snapnames for (in a bid), or names that are about to expire, that way, It gives me a heads up and I actually have gooten quite a few this way.

as sad and funny as it may seem, they do not annoy me. They have actually alerted me, although not on purpose about expiring names that I am interested in since I owned other extensions.

[wangjinhk]

the tow domains are owner by you now?Are they spam mails?

[ColdGin]

yes,,,im the owner...it seems that they get info as soon as a new domain is regged or change hands...

[Bob]

I just got an email from them too. I own commodities.org, and he offered me commodities.com for $199.95. I am like, yeah, right. This is a $300,000 name, and you are selling for $199.95? Come on.

So I went to their website and I looked at the various names, and there was commodities.com for 199.95.


I called the guy and expressed my interest in Commodities.com. He looked it up and said that it was not showing in the system. He then said that it might have been listed with their brokerage department, and put me on hold while he checked. When he came back, he said "Sorry, that name was sold this morning." Um, yeah, alright.

So I was curious, and I searched their site even further. I looked for perhaps 15 min and found these names for sale:

0.com
1.com
10.com
11.com
22.com
29.com
069.com
1800.com

All for $199.95 - yeah, right.

I called him back (his name was John, and he had a Canadian Accent), and said that I was interested in purchasing several names, and how the process worked. He said that you submit your credit card, but they do not charge the card up front. Within 24 hours, you will receive confirmation that the name is yours. They will then create an account and push the domain over to you. It was simple. The process takes "a max of 10 days".

I thanked him for his time and that was that.

What an idiot.

-Bob

[JuniperPark]

Could you post their phone number and any other information about them?

I've forwarded their emails to several 'real' owners that were furious but unable to get a working phone for them.

My hobby is baiting scammers to scam each other. These guys sound like they might be interested in the Nigerian lottery, or some live pedo porn action.

[Bob]

Its right on their website under "Contact Us":

Our highly trained, courteous support staff is waiting to take your call. Whatever time it takes to assist you, that's the time you'll receive. We'll resolve any issue to your complete satisfaction.
Sales & Billing Support - (646) 964-6515

Mon-Fri 10:00AM-6:00PM EST

I am interested to hear your conversation.

-Bob

[biggedon]

I am interested to hear your conversation.

-Bob

me too!

[3dGEEK]

Very interesting indeed

[tonyfloyd]

wowow.....what a bunch of *%*%7....can we set up a conference call so we can all listen in??....we'll all be on mute ......would love to tape that call for any future courtroom use...

[JuniperPark]

We can all do this!

We know how they work -- they gather WHOIS data and email you that they are selling the same name in another TLD.

So, when you get their email, call the REAL owner of that domain, tell them that's going on, and do a 3-way call. Tell the scammer that you are on a 3 way 'helping your friend buy' the domain name, verifying the scammer owns it, ask how/when they bought it, etc. By sure to sound VERY interested, and VERY stupid, willing to give credit card info right away, till they're busted.

If you want to play the short version if the game, respond to the Nigerian scam emails with their name, email, and phone. Again, sound REAL dumb and reference God and scripture a lot to bait these people - that's what they're looking for.

[Terminator]

This is just one more reason for WHOIS to be overhauled.