Domain Name Scam

I bought a domain name, couple of weeks back, was curious on how much the domain name is worth and put it for auction, just for the sake of knowing its worth ( and with a secret desire that someone will offer a 4 digit figure )

2 days later I got a mail from a party, they told they were interested in the domain name, and asked me to quote my price.

I was surprised and happy at first, but when I searched for the company name they told they were representing, it was no where to be found! Domain name business company without a domain name! what are the odds?

I continued my conversation, the next mail made everything clear. I was witnessing a Domain name scam! In their mail, they were stressing too much on Domain Name appraisal(domain name company without knowing how to do this?) and that too from a particular company - http://www.easynamesale.com and sent me a link to encourage me to go for appraisal.

Did a bit of research and found this - http://www.google.com/search?q=%22If%2C+for+example%2C+the+valua….

Below are the mails exchanged between myself and the “interested party”

I have censored my email address to prevent spam and the domain name.

From: T N G <tngtech@phreaker.net>
Subject: mydomain.com
To: XXXXX@yahoo.co.in
Date: Friday, 13 June, 2008, 1:56 PM

Greetings!

mydomain.com has been found via online auctions.
Please let us know the your price and we will consider it.
Our company is investing in High Tech and IT projects. Now the domain market is very attractive for us, since every business in the Internet requires a domain.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,
Craig Huffman
Chief Executive Officer
TNG (The Next Generation) Services

—————————————-
From: Prashanth
To: T N G
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: mydomain.com

Sir,

Glad to know you are interested in the domain name. I am willing to sell this domain for mid $x,xxx (4 digit).

Please send me your quote.

Thank You

-Prashanth

——————————-
From: T N G <tngtech@phreaker.net>
Subject: Re: mydomain.com
To: “Prashanth” <XXXXX@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Saturday, 14 June, 2008, 11:14 PM



Can you accept 9,000 USD?

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

Domain without content is ok with me. 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 archive:
http://domainmarket.007sites.com/Archive/418360.htm (have uploaded a copy here)

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 the 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.

—————————-
From: Prashanth
To: T N G
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: mydomain.com

Yes I can accept 9000 USD, if thats the offer.

I am selling domain name only.

No, I havent had any domain appraisal experience.
The already quoted mid $x,xxx is something what I am comfortable selling it at, If the value is more, well, you are lucky! if you feel its low please let me know your bid.

I am just testing out this selling of domain thingi, if it doesnt work out, planning to use it host my personal blog. So I am not going in for any appraisal.

I would prefer paypal for payment.

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.
-Prashanth

——————————-
From: T N G <tngtech@phreaker.net>
Subject: Re: mydomain.com
To: “Prashanth” <XXXXX@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Sunday, 15 June, 2008, 5:46 PM


It’s a standard practice to show independent valuation to buyers/resellers.
Nobody will do business without it. I’m a businessman and have no intention
of changing rules which help both parties to avoid additional risks.

Of course, investors never take into account auto-generated vlauations. So
manual valuation is a “must” too.

I read the following information about appraisals at:
http://domainmarket.007sites.com/Archive/418360.htm (have uploaded a copy here)

Thank you for understanding. I’m looking forward to do business with you.
————————————-
From: Prashanth
To: T N G
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: mydomain.com

I am under no pressure to sell the domain, and also if you are serious about buying domains, I guess you would have your own appraisals that you would be referring to. I can offer a $20-$50 discount(the appraisal fees is about $20-$50) if the sale happens. So go ahead, if you were thinking that I would mind you appraising my domain, there is nothing like that, and you have full rights to appraise my domain

Being an entrepreneur, I know a thing or two about business.

Looking forward to your bid.
-Prashanth
————————————

From: “T N G” <tngtech@phreaker.net>
To: “Prashanth” <XXXXX@yahoo.co.in>
Sent: Sunday, 15 June, 2008 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: mydomain.com

Without manual valuation nobody will buy. You’ll sit on your domain for
years in this case, paying renewal fees to your registrar. Just think about
it. So sooner or later, you’ll have to obtain an appraisal. Why waste time
now?

As a seller, you can use a valuation certificate to sell names to other
buyers. I cannot do the same because I don’t keep control over your domain.

I’m still interested in your domain. Hope you’ll change your position. I
simply don’t want to take additional risks.

Thank you for understanding. I’m looking forward to do business with you.

——
I stopped replying (I know, should have continued)

Few tips to the “interested party” :

• Atleast invest on one domain, for the “company” you are representing. It hardly costs anything, atmost $7-10.
• When you point to a forum, see to it that its a forum software, you can use PHPBB, its 100% free. If not, atleast put date and time of the posts on the html file, even the dumbest guy knows that forum posts have dates.
• even if not the above two, atleast have a decent domain appraisal scam website - you get a lot of free web templates now a days.

Found a couple of people who had faced a similar experience (from the same “interested party” maybe)

• http://whall.org/blog/2007/08/29/domain-purchasing-scam-argh/
• http://travisisaacs.com/2007/08/08/on-domain-name-scammers/

Close this WindowBookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea

del.icio.us DotNetKicks Digg diigo dropjack.com dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com

Furl Google Hugg Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace

MyWeb Netvouz Newsvine PlugIM popcurrent Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot

Sphere Sphinn Spurl.net Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Webride Windows Live Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed or Email Feed.

More »

Related posts

• Web Hosting for Starters #Part 1
• How to choose a domain name
• How to choose a web host?
• Web Hosting for Starters #Part 2
• Why google changed their favicon?