How to Make sure Domain I'm Buying is Not Stolen Domain?

[SIKHboy]

Is there a way to confirm this?? All the feedback is appreciated other than checking whois. I want to make sure properly that The domain Im Buying is not stolen domain.!

[draggar]

There is no 100% fool proof way.

Some recommendations to cut down:

Know who you're doing business with.

If you have access to WhoIs history check with the previous owner to make sure who has it now (according to the WhoIs) is who is supposed to have it.


If the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Check forums, like this one, to see if it's been reported stolen.

[Johnn]

Check the who is history to make sure that ownership has not been changed recently.

Pick up the phone and call from thw who is information.

Escrow with Moniker.

[hnh]

How does escrowing with Moniker JOhn?

[Johnn]

http://www.moniker.com/aftermarket/domain-escrow.jsp

[amplify]

This brings me to the question: What if you do purchase a stolen domain and the original owner is to contact you?

Should you cut your losses and return it? Take a 50/50 loss? What is the best action to take?

Thanks

[Johnn]

Ask yourself the same question if you bought a stolen car - what would you do?

[amplify]

Ask yourself the same question if you bought a stolen car - what would you do?

Well, if you bought a tangible item like a car, it is easier to track the thief and recoup your money than buying an intangible item like a domain...

So, IMO, you can't compare the two.

[SIKHboy]

Well, if you bought a tangible item like a car, it is easier to track the thief and recoup your money than buying an intangible item like a domain...

So, IMO, you can't compare the two.

I would return the domain, and take the loss. Its my fault who bought a lost domain, and it is not the owners fault who got his domain stolen.

So return the name and take a loss is the legit option.

[John Baron]

one of the simple things u can do is a to run a google search on the name most of domain owners that got there name stolen will post something about it in one of the domain forums

[amplify]

Another solution I thought was to take a 50/50 loss up front for both the buyer and original owner then come tax time they will be compensated as a business loss. Since it could very well be a 3 way fault: one being the thief (of course); the second being the buyer for not verifying the domain and the third being the original owner because he may have had a weak password, installed malware or reported it stolen too late.

[DomainsInc]

I would return the domain, and take the loss. Its my fault who bought a lost domain, and it is not the owners fault who got his domain stolen.

So return the name and take a loss is the legit option.

Might be fine if you only paid xxx for it. I don't see how its the buyers fault. You can do all the research you want, it could still be stolen. Do you think the guy who bought p2p.com for 100k that was stolen is just going to take the loss? Fat chance.

[amplify]

Might be fine if you only paid xxx for it. I don't see how its the buyers fault. You can do all the research you want, it could still be stolen. Do you think the guy who bought p2p.com for 100k that was stolen is just going to take the loss? Fat chance.

Exactly. If both parties took a 50/50 loss (50k in this example) they could write it off on their taxes and would be both essentially compensated for the deal plus interest over time (if you could convince the IRS of that).

[DomainsInc]

Exactly. If both parties took a 50/50 loss (50k in this example) they could write it off on their taxes and would be both essentially compensated for the deal plus interest over time (if you could convince the IRS of that).

I am not sure how you would get the money "back" by writing it off...wouldn't you just not have to pay taxes on that 50k?

[amplify]

I am not sure how you would get the money "back" by writing it off...wouldn't you just not have to pay taxes on that 50k?

I would prefer not paying 50k in taxes for the year rather than getting 50k back and paying over 100k in taxes... Any tax guru's here?

[SIKHboy]

i just declined to go with the sale now, yes it was around xx,xxx usd involved, so i just ignored, cant put myself on risk.

Thanks for all the feedback.

[fab]

i just declined to go with the sale now, yes it was around xx,xxx usd involved, so i just ignored, cant put myself on risk.

Thanks for all the feedback.

For that sort of money you should hire a lawyer, and have a purchase contract written, just like you would do for purchasing a house.