I got a scam offer!

[HarveyJ]

I'm not saying it isn't... I'm just filling you in on the M.O. because it's similar the one used by some of the smaller Aff Marketeers that go for the niche markets like I do...

Don't worry folks, I'm only after media sharing and streaming entertainment, so most of you are safe from my evil clutches...
Unless you'd like to step into my evil clutches and make some cash on the side while you're waiting to sell a domain
[/shameless plug]

[anderson33]

Originally Posted by MAllie

This is even more mysterious when you consider that the name has been registered for years, although I've only just parked it. Viewers can't see my lousy keywords, can they? If so, they'd know I really am a newbie. :(

LOL

HarveyJ - Thanks for the info, that was all new to me.

[MAllie]

I got another email from the same guy this morning, insisting that it was up to the seller to get the appraisal. He's kind of persistent. And no, I haven't clicked on any of the links he provides:

Sellers always provide buyers with valuations. This is a common practice.
I don't trust $14 services like that GoDaddy's valuation service. Nobody will do a research for $14. We need a real manual service.
I researched several companies and here are the results:
I considered www.Afternic.com, but now it's clear their service is not reliable enough.
Just read this:
http://www.igoldrush.com/links3.htm
"Capsule Review: After lots of complaints, Afternic is no longer a recommended service. We will re-review the service in the near future."
Another complaint
http://www.out-law.com/page-1630

I was told about manual research service from http://www.DomainMart.com. It costs - $200/hour.
Many experienced sellers suggested me www.EasyNameSale.com as a trustworth manual service. They charge per name not per hour. I've read only positive comments about them at http://www.aboutus.org/EasyNameSale.com.

[ArjunDhawan]

I got an offer for $10,000 on iPhoneCommunity.org
(His email ID, I still remember logsdon@bonbon.net)

He asked me to get back to him with an appraisal (With a link in the email)
The appraisal itself was $200!

That rang warning bells in my head and I realized that he was just phishing.

[XtremXpert]

I got this email:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,

Just let me know your price for xxxxxxx.com. I regularly check domain auctions and your name has good potential.

We are working on software market. So investing Internet names and reselling is just a part of our investment strategy and business.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,
Andreas Winski
Vice President
TNG Technologies
---------------------------------------------------------------------

and the second email from him:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Can you accept x,xxx USD? (there was a price)

Do you sell domain with a web site or just name?

If just name it's ok. Web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the
past? I mean domain
appraisals.

Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale
price. It's very important
for me in terms of reselling too.

But we must engage a valuation company with REAL
manual service. So I will
only accept valuations from independent sources I
trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about
reputable appraisal
companies.

Please check this posting from forum archive:
http://domain talk.007sites.com/Archive/260108.htm (without spaces)

If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can
adjust your asking price
accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can
give me 12% - 15%
discount.

After you send me valuation via email (usually it
takes 1-2 days to obtain
it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com,
International wire
transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

after appraisal:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Your valuation looks reasonable enough and I agree with it.


To get a fair value I ordered another valuation from different site.

Since it's not smart to rely on one valuation only.

I've got the figure already. It's very close the result of your
valuation.

Of course, I expected a lower estimation .

Anyway, now I see from different sources that your name has a good
potential.

My partners told me about ICANN rule that prohibits domain reselling
before
two months from registration. I did not want to wait for two months.

Here is my solution:

I search for a buyer and get 14%-15% upon sale. I wrote about reselling
in
first emails.

Of course, I don't require exclusive rights to sell. You can try to
sell at
the same time. If I find a buyer faster I get my 15%.

I've already bought opt-in lists to promote your domains. I invested
about
$150 in these opt-in lists.

Of course, I cannot list your names with brokers and auctions since I'm
not
the owner.

You should list your names in all possible palce to increase the
exposure. I
think www.Amazon.com and www.eBay.com are good sites to
start with. Please don't forget to send your auction links.

I'm going to use your valuation in my promotio? Is it ok with you?
--------------------------------------------------------------------

What you think about this person?

[MAllie]

Do you have to ask? How much was the appraisal?

[XtremXpert]

Originally Posted by MAllie

Do you have to ask? How much was the appraisal?

$135 USD for 2 domains

[ArjunDhawan]

Originally Posted by XtremXpert

I got this email:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,

Just let me know your price for xxxxxxx.com. I regularly check domain auctions and your name has good potential.

We are working on software market. So investing Internet names and reselling is just a part of our investment strategy and business.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,
Andreas Winski
Vice President
TNG Technologies
---------------------------------------------------------------------

and the second email from him:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Can you accept x,xxx USD? (there was a price)

Do you sell domain with a web site or just name?

If just name it's ok. Web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the
past? I mean domain
appraisals.

Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale
price. It's very important
for me in terms of reselling too.

But we must engage a valuation company with REAL
manual service. So I will
only accept valuations from independent sources I
trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about
reputable appraisal
companies.

Please check this posting from forum archive:
http://domain talk.007sites.com/Archive/260108.htm (without spaces)

If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can
adjust your asking price
accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can
give me 12% - 15%
discount.

After you send me valuation via email (usually it
takes 1-2 days to obtain
it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com,
International wire
transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

after appraisal:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Your valuation looks reasonable enough and I agree with it.


To get a fair value I ordered another valuation from different site.

Since it's not smart to rely on one valuation only.

I've got the figure already. It's very close the result of your
valuation.

Of course, I expected a lower estimation .

Anyway, now I see from different sources that your name has a good
potential.

My partners told me about ICANN rule that prohibits domain reselling
before
two months from registration. I did not want to wait for two months.

Here is my solution:

I search for a buyer and get 14%-15% upon sale. I wrote about reselling
in
first emails.

Of course, I don't require exclusive rights to sell. You can try to
sell at
the same time. If I find a buyer faster I get my 15%.

I've already bought opt-in lists to promote your domains. I invested
about
$150 in these opt-in lists.

Of course, I cannot list your names with brokers and auctions since I'm
not
the owner.

You should list your names in all possible palce to increase the
exposure. I
think www.Amazon.com and www.eBay.com are good sites to
start with. Please don't forget to send your auction links.

I'm going to use your valuation in my promotio? Is it ok with you?
--------------------------------------------------------------------

What you think about this person?

Holy mother of god!!!

(What email did this guy use?)

I swear that I too, got an IDENTICAL email..
Even the 'manual appraisers' were the same guys!!!

[HarveyJ]

Arjundhawan: Actually, that stands to reason that you'd get the same email.

A template email, so long as it's well written, will seem like it's been personalized and written by a person on the other end.

I tend to use template emails a fair bit, due to the volume required in my line of work, although I do try my best to actually give a real, personalized email if people reply.

Even if people tell me to get screwed, I often write back an original email, thanking them for their time.
This in turn makes them do a double take and go "oh, wait, it WAS a real person", and the guilt at confusing a real person for an automated bot usually makes people start up a dialogue with me.

It's part of the sales psychology behind the whole thing.

That being said, it's fun to catch out the ones who aren't so good

[etphotog]

I had another contact on the appraisal scam this time from Robert Gardos
(ceo@eliteinvestment.net), the first time was from Karen Eisenberg (eisenberg@bonbon.net). This time a notified Godaddy's Domains by Proxy about the abuse. I haven't heard back from DBP yet.

Just for a rub I sent him an invoice an invoice the amount ($500) he said he'd pay for the domain. The site owner that had the "forum" that Gordos had pointed me to was pulled down after I contacted t he site's admin.

I was wondering if anyone has gone after the scammers to make it harder for them pull the games off. I've investigated many fraud case when I was a cop and I found that the reason these people keep doing this is because no one reports or acts on the scammers.