Beware of Fake Domain Offers!

Hello

I would like to drag your attention to a new Trcky way of some Domain Appraisal Website Owners.

They keep checking new domains for sale list in many site. They check the whois record of each website. Then they will send you an e-mail very similiar to below:

Hello,

What is your price for the domain mentioned in the subject line?

I'm very interested in this name.

Did you get offers from other people already?

I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and databases
in MS SQL and Delphi. Buying and selling domain names is not my
main business. Just another way to invest money and make additional income.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Best regards,

Robert Johansen Ph.D.
CEO
Opera Engineering

Then what happen?

You may reply with your asking price or ask them their offer for your domain.

Next time they will send a reply very similiar to below

How about 9,900 USD? Ok?

Do you have an appraisal certificate?

Domain name is an investment for me. In other words I'm going to sell your
name later and make a profit. If I overpay I won't be able to make a
profit in the future. It's very important for you and me to know the current market value of your domain. Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging a reputable appraisal company. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals.

I will only accept appraisals from independent sources I trust. To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/62049.htm

Juck check this posting.

If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. I also hope you can give me 10% - 15%discount of the appraised value because I need a room to make profit.

After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.

How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check
or wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

You Become very happy.

You read their forum post. Then you go for a appraisal certificate through the website that guy recommanded you. You submitt the certificate and you never hear from him...

What happened?

That guy wanted you to purchase his website's appraisal service, that's all

So beware of Fake Domain Offers!

I've seen this on a lot of forums, and I'm glad that the information is being spread around, so that less people will be scammed. I actually received one already too (I feel honored lol!) and I just laughed at it when I saw it.

ya , 1 of my friend said he was cheated with email u showed above, i was thinking to write here.thanks u already wrote it very clearly.

very interesting post must read i also plan to start and Appraisal site anf forum thanks for the info

[weblord]

i saw this a lot already on another forum im a member of as well, but it's just a fake domain buyer and just used to promote an appraisal scam, one scam leads to another scam you know. Imho

That's pretty **** sneaky. Thanks for the heads up.

Originally Posted by weblord

i saw this a lot already on another forum im a member of as well, but it's just a fake domain buyer and just used to promote an appraisal scam, one scam leads to another scam you know. Imho

Oh my God! What forum man? Anyway, thanks for opening this up.

[Kernavitch]

good call! I was gunna buy a $200 domain also but now I am afraid.

[Bloods-Crips]

I would be so upset if I got scammed over a fake domain name!

Originally Posted by Bloods-Crips

I would be so upset if I got scammed over a fake domain name!

i don't think you would have done that, would you?