$8,500 STOLEN by Prateek Jain & Chirag Shah

[Steen]

In March I purchased the domain in question from Prateek after he advertised in this thread: http://www.dnforum.com/f116/540-mont...ad-276072.html

As you can see it is advertised as making $540/mo. From February 25 (I paid to test the traffic) to today the domain name has made a total of $608. A domain name advertised as making $540/mo and in 4 full months (almost 5 now) it makes a grand total of $608? Somethings fishy here and all signs are pointing to click fraud.

Just look at the stats... the week I test it (end of Feb) the domain does $125 alone. Pretty good and on track to meet the advertised revenue. I pay for the name and in March (the first month I own it) revenue drops right down to $252/mo. It goes sharply downhill from there to June with 4 visits and 1 click (One $35 click.) Strange isn't it how the traffic pattern has changed so dramatically in a short period of time. Impossible that in one week revenue drops from $500+/mo to $250/mo. (Feb-Mar) right after I pay and get the domain.

Before I contact the seller I email DomainSponsor asking about the domain. Traffic quality dept. had this to say: "Chazestudentloans.com's not too hot. Going back in the data (April 20th to present), it's got 91 clicks, 55 of which are flagged for user excess clicking. Basically, mostly fraud."

Further (from DS):

The pub you bought the name from was terminated from DomainSponsor due
to fraud.

So I present these facts to the seller and tell him I need to be refunded as there is no way this sale was legitimate. Conveniently the seller claims that he wasn't the seller after all but just a domain broker. Strange, because at no point was I told he was brokering the domain name. Only when it came to the final payment the seller said this:

Please initiate the transaction. The domain's whois records are in my partner's name, so I guess it would be best to use his email and use his name as the seller (although all the communication etc can be done with me).

His email is: chirag.555@gmail.com
Name: Chirag Shah

Thanks,
Prateek

Being partners with someone and brokering a domain name for someone are entirely different. Partners are responsible for each others actions. Prateek Jain and Chirag Shah could in the end be the same person. They both responded to my email within 5 minutes of each other.

Prateek disclaims all responsibility and ultimately tells me "please pursue the matter further with Chirag Shah as he is the one whose domain you bought and who received the payment" - he names reasons for the revenue drop ranging from registrar issues to the American economy. Absolutely bogus. Further, he feigns ignorance by claiming that a click from India cannot yield $1+ RPCs.

The fact is Prateek Jain and/or Chirag Shah sold a domain name with fake traffic to me for $8,500 and are now refusing to reverse the deal. Facts brought to light almost guarantee that the domain name never received real revenue in the first place. The traffic and revenue was orchestrated click fraud to inflate the value and defraud the buyer.

Prateek Jain sold me this domain name with no mention of himself being a broker (until 4+ months after the sale.) He is wholly responsible for refunding me and has refused; blaming myself and this mysterious Chirag Shah. If Prateek was not the individual who was involved or running this scam he is still liable for what has taken place as he sold me this domain name claiming to be the seller and acting as one.

So that anyone who Google's either of the above aliases will be made aware of this transaction here is some info on them.

Prateek Jain
PayPal Email: prateek_com@hotmail.com
Email: prateek.777@gmail.com
DNF User: Prateekj - same username on NP, Digitalpoint & domainforums .com.
WHOIS info:
Prateek Jain
903/19, Indradarshan
Lokhandwala, Andheri(W)
Mumbai
Maharashtra,400053
IN
Tel. +91.9820102187


Chirag Shah
Email: chirag.555@gmail.com

WHOIS:
Chirag
Chirag Shah (chirag.555@gmail.com)
210, Krishna Niwas, Road 5, J.V.P.D. Scheme, Parle(w).
Mumbai
Maharashtra,400056
IN
Tel. +022.65520871


Any parking company employees would also do good to keep an eye on accounts opened under the above two names. Keep in mind DS already terminated one due to fraud.

Of course Prateek or Chirag can show that they are upstanding people and refund this purchase which I would ensure this thread reflects when that happens.

Comments are welcome.

[Seraphim]

Was there a sale contract? Doesn't zero sale contract = purchased as is? Did you get a performance guarantee?

[TheLegendaryJP]

If you can infact prove it was sold based on fraud there is no doubt you have a case. Problem is moving forward legally takes $$$$$ to do. Why not ask for a partial refund as it still earns ?

[Steen]

Originally Posted by TheLegendaryJP

If you can infact prove it was sold based on fraud there is no doubt you have a case. Problem is moving forward legally takes $$$$$ to do. Why not ask for a partial refund as it still earns ?

Hi JP,

Did you look at the stats? It doesn't still earn anything and it likely never earned legitimate revenue.

[TheLegendaryJP]

Originally Posted by Steen

Hi JP,

Did you look at the stats? It doesn't still earn anything and it likely never earned legitimate revenue.

Oh I thought it still earned $125 a month. If it earns nothing that is another story, I agree. Still imo legal persuit is too costly as you know so best you can do is hope they refund.

Was this a tm/typo or generic ? $8500 is just 13-14 months no ? Sometimes if its too good to be true... you follow.

[trader]

When you deal in high priced trademark typos you can expect problems later on.

[TheLegendaryJP]

Originally Posted by trader

When you deal in high priced trademark typos you can expect problems later on.

We all know enough that many vaariables are involved in certain names, advertising ends, promotion changes etc. But if a name was CLEARLY involved in click fraud to help pmp and dump it doesnt matter what you bought. The people who you would think involve themselves in tm/typos ( unscrupulous )(sp) are involved all the way to the " top " , there is no " type " of person. Ive seen millionaires do the same stuff.

[domainplus]

Hey steen,

Are u a member at domaintools...Check the history of the domain and then you can make out if Chirag shah and Prateek jain are same or not ? Also Did you look at the whois when/before you purchased the name(I guess you should have taken a snapshot coz it is a big purchase)

Did Chirag Shah at any time own the domain or is it just a make-story after the domain is not performing ?

[Steen]

Originally Posted by domainplus

Hey steen,

Are u a member at domaintools...Check the history of the domain and then you can make out if Chirag shah and Prateek jain are same or not ? Also Did you look at the whois when/before you purchased the name(I guess you should have taken a snapshot coz it is a big purchase)

Did Chirag Shah at any time own the domain or is it just a make-story after the domain is not performing ?

Thanks for the tip. I did look into the history of names Prateek has been selling and the history of this name according to Domaintools. Although both use addresses in the same city (Mumbai) they haven't matched yet. Even if they did Prateek will simply claim to be the "broker" of names he lists for sale if called on it.

[trader]

Originally Posted by TheLegendaryJP

We all know enough that many vaariables are involved in certain names, advertising ends, promotion changes etc. But if a name was CLEARLY involved in click fraud to help pmp and dump it doesnt matter what you bought. The people who you would think involve themselves in tm/typos ( unscrupulous )(sp) are involved all the way to the " top " , there is no " type " of person. Ive seen millionaires do the same stuff.

I was not referring to the obvious need for honest stats regardless of it being a tm typo or not but more in regard to the fact so many parking firms are now cracking down and no longer monetize trademarks names or ones they perceive to be risky or controversial, which also may have real low EPC even if acceptable. This can make past revenue stats much more than is possible now, depending on the ad providers.

[TheLegendaryJP]

Originally Posted by trader

I was not referring to the obvious need for honest stats regardless of it being a tm typo or not but more in regard to the fact so many parking firms are now cracking down and no longer monetize trademarks names or ones they perceive to be risky or controversial, which also may have real low EPC even if acceptable. This can make past revenue stats much more than is possible now, depending on the ad providers.

I see, yes this is true.

[sdsinc]

Originally Posted by Steen

Prateek Jain sold me this domain name with no mention of himself being a broker (until 4+ months after the sale.) He is wholly responsible for refunding me and has refused; blaming myself and this mysterious Chirag Shah. If Prateek was not the individual who was involved or running this scam he is still liable for what has taken place as he sold me this domain name claiming to be the seller and acting as one.

Funny how two different people use the same patterns in their E-mail addresses.
Email: prateek.777@gmail.com
Email: chirag.555@gmail.com

Originally Posted by trader

When you deal in high priced trademark typos you can expect problems later on.

Buying any domain just based on traffic stats is bound to cause problems

[simon]

i remember this name. i was also interested in this name but when i saw that the registration date of (02-jan-2008), i instantly knew that something was fishy so i avoided being involved with this name.
This is a case of fraud and i have also been burnt with such deals in the past. I urge the seller to refund the money and the buyer to return all parking money that he has collected in the meantime.

[Steen]

Originally Posted by sdsinc

Funny how two different people use the same patterns in their E-mail addresses.
Email: prateek.777@gmail.com
Email: chirag.555@gmail.com

Interesting isn't it?

i remember this name. i was also interested in this name but when i saw that the registration date of (02-jan-2008), i instantly knew that something was fishy so i avoided being involved with this name.
This is a case of fraud and i have also been burnt with such deals in the past. I urge the seller to refund the money and the buyer to return all parking money that he has collected in the meantime.

simon, you nailed it. After getting enough data over the course of a few months it seemed very strange, so I notified DS. That is when the click fraud came to light. Indeed, I have no desire to benefit from any domain which relies on click fraud. Prateek must refund me as well.

[dcmike77]

Welcome to the club. I've learned the hard way several times. It's very easy to fake traffic in this business. Althought $8,500 is a lot of coin, it couldn've been much more.

The born on date should be a dead give away in this case - 02-jan-2008.

Save yourself the hassle and buy generics. Again, I've lost plenty of money trying to do what you're doing...

-Mike

[nameadvertising.com]

I have sold typos which performed well for a few months after sale and then went downhill with the buyer blaming me for performance issues. The fact is, no one can predict traffic for typos.

That being said, the above case clearly seems to be a case of click fraud and domain sale fraud. It is hard to find respect in the industry when scums like these use fraud to milk someone.

Funny, I grew up close to where these idiots live. Just a couple of miles away. Had I lived there still, I'd walk up to them and demanded an explanation. How can they face themselves in the mirror? What did they do with the money? Brought the kids some toys with stolen money.

There are better and honest and easy means to make an income. Those who miss out on good parenting and good schooling end up like that.

Too bad Steen, you'll have to be more diligent hence. The best way to buy names based on traffic is to find an extended history of stats and a bit of a dose of risk.

I share your pain.

[sdsinc]

Has the seller been invited to comment ?

[pcproffenno]

Originally Posted by Steen

Please initiate the transaction. The domain's whois records are in my partner's name, so I guess it would be best to use his email and use his name as the seller (although all the communication etc can be done with me).

His email is: chirag.555@gmail.com
Name: Chirag Shah

Thanks,
Prateek

Given this info by the seller + the fact that the supposedly "broker" used the e-mail address prateek.777@gmail.com and you still bought the domain?

Come on .. Don't get me wrong, you have my deepest concerns for being ripped off, but sometimes it pays off to have your antennas out.

[gingeman]

I remember this name, I thought at the time it didn't ring true and gave it a wide berth. As already mentioned, continued traffic can never be guaranteed, but this is a clear cut case of click fraud to inflate a sale. I will most certainly be putting prateek on my ignore list.
If you submit the evidence to the mods they will probably ban him.

[TheWatcher]

Hi Steen,

Sorry to hear this. Where did you buy the domains? Are they member of DNF?

Good luck to you and I hope you get the refund.

Regards,
em