Help - have i been scammed??

ryccki06 · 11-30-2006, 01:38 PM

Hi. I have a problem. I put my domain name up for sale and recieved an email from "SNN software" who said that they wished a quote in US$s. I gave them an outragous quote : $2000 because i thought that a real company would then try and barter me down. However this was the reply:
Hello,
> > >
> > >Please let me know a quote in US dollars or Euros for the name
>mentioned
>in
> > >the subject of this email. We saw it listed for sale.
> > >
> > >Our company develops software (mainly client-server systems).
> > >
> > >If you offer more domains for sale with good reselling potential
>please
> > >email us your list.
> > >
> > >Looking forward to do business with you.
> > >
> > >Regards,
> > >Anthony Waldner
> > >President
> > >SNN Systems
> > >Software Solutions

AND THEN I REPLIED WITH THE QUOTE AND I GOT THIS:

>2000 USD. Ok.
>
>Do you sell the name only without web site? I'm interested in the name
so
>web site is not so important.
>
>Do you have an appraisal certificate for your domain name?
>
>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.
>I heard some appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. So
I
>will only accept appraisals from independent sources I
>To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal
>companies
>in a forum
>http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/97015.htm
>
>Just 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.
>
>After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.
>
>How do you prefer to get paid: www.escrow.com, www.PayPal.com check or
>wire?
>
>Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

I hope some of you guys will be able to tell me whether this is a scam or whether i should go ahead with it. Cheers.

tricolorro · 11-30-2006, 01:43 PM

It is 100% a scam.

Patrick

nmr86 · 11-30-2006, 01:47 PM

ignore him !! its a big scammer..

he ( or that organisation ) is sending 1,000 of those mails out.. just to get a few bucks from appraisals..

say in the next mail: **** OFF SCAMMER

nu-money · 11-30-2006, 01:49 PM

How can you know what is a scam and what is a genuine offer? What are the signs of a scam?

btrader · 11-30-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enuffy

How can you know what is a scam and what is a genuine offer? What are the signs of a scam?

obviously, there are new techniques all the time, but anyone asking you to pay money to have your domain appraised so they will buy it - should be a BIG CLUE. any real buyer will do there own due dilligence.

I only use Escrow.com for transactions, this is how I protect myself - whether I am buying or selling.

lpstong · 11-30-2006, 02:02 PM

Scam. Scammy. Scammer. Smells like a scam. Looks like a Scam. Reads like a scam. Oh did I mention it is a scam.

Sorry about that. But I hate it when people do that. I had a company from sweden with pretty much the same wording to the email do that to me. And they only wanted the certificate with the company they choose. And each companies fee were like $75+.

nu-money · 11-30-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

obviously, there are new techniques all the time, but anyone asking you to pay money to have your domain appraised so they will buy it - should be a BIG CLUE. any real buyer will do there own due dilligence.

Ok thanks, it's common sense really. If someone really wants to buy your domain they wouldn't mind spending thier own cash getting an apprasial.

ryccki06 · 11-30-2006, 02:19 PM

thanks a lot for the quick replies. im going to enjoy sending him a nice polite email!! cheers.

nu-money · 11-30-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

thanks a lot for the quick replies. im going to enjoy sending him a nice polite email!! cheers.

You should play along... act stupid, ask him lots of questions...

Waste his time so that he has less time scamming offers

YesBrilliant · 11-30-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enuffy

You should play along... act stupid, ask him lots of questions...

Waste his time so that he has less time scamming offers

That is ok but the problem is that we, serious domainers, end up wasting our time, too, so it is not productive.

It would be fantastic to find a way to prevent those people to keep trying to scam people, they should be stoped somehow, by DOS, whatever. I was just reading another post about this very same scammer, seconds ago.

If anyone have any ideas, please let us know, it will save a lot of time for us and a lot of money for the beginners that are receiving their first offers.

Datalife · 12-01-2006, 06:19 AM

This sounds alot like the Opera Technologies scam, except its a different name they use here. I had received that Opera email before too, but I just ignored it..only to get another one for another domain a few days later, under a different "company" name.

WhiteWebServices · 12-01-2006, 07:12 AM

You should be able to waste some of his time without wasting too much of your own. Short, open-ended questions like "How exactly do these domain appraisals work?" or "Please could you explain the escrow process?" should work.

Erdinc · 12-01-2006, 10:46 PM

This is definately a scam. Don't waste your time an energy. If you are selling domains list them at sedo and if somebody is interested in your domain send them the sedo link where your domain is advertised.

If you hear the word "apprasial" in an email it is a scam.

If somebody is interested in your domain respond them by saying "the domain is for sale at sedo and here is link". If the same person sends a second email say "go to sedo following this link" and if he sends a third email say "**** off" and mark the email as spam.

blackwizard · 12-01-2006, 11:12 PM

I also got the same mail. I did not reply to it. It was from "boss@sinnsyk.com"

Should I reply or Ignore the message ? what to do?

Thanks!

blue^ray · 12-02-2006, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackwizard

I also got the same mail. I did not reply to it. It was from "boss@sinnsyk.com"

Should I reply or Ignore the message ? what to do?

Thanks!

spam him back :P

WORDSWORTH · 12-02-2006, 12:53 PM

There is a thread about this scam here at namepros. View it here

I received an email from this scammer about one of my domains. The moment he asked me to spend my own money on an appraisal before he would buy, I knew it was dodgy. Trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it usually IS!

Mandalayfun · 12-02-2006, 07:21 PM

Actually I was going to comment to Patrick (the same thing... but the "WordsWorth" got me... figures). You asked how do you know? Well to me its sounds like you are figuring it out just fine ... you knew, which is why it didn't sit right and you are here asking. I am not a whole lot further removed from being a rookie than you are. But is fun learning.
I was reminded very early in this adventure, that in this cyber world when it just somehow doesn't feel right, one definitely needs to trust those uneasy Gut Feelings and tingling Spidey Senses and at a minumum, take a 'time-out" . There are definitely are (like anywhere I guess) "a few bad apples" out in the anonymity of the ether.
Take care,
Wes
PS I got the Opera one

kdom · 12-03-2006, 12:50 PM

I've received the same email. It is a scam.

In general I would suggest, and I'd be interested in what others think of this, that appraisals should only be paid for by the buyer since they are for the buyer's "protection." This is how it is done with real estate. An appraisal is basically a second opinion that the buyer gets regarding the value of the domain and whether he is paying too much.

Personally I don't think much of appraisals. A domain is like anything else. It is worth exactly what a buyer and seller mutually agree it is worth. But, if I were about to spend big money on a domain I might pay for an appraisal just as a sanity check.

In general though, I would personally shy away from anyone asking a seller to pay for an appraisal and as a seller I would never pay for one under any circumstances.

11-30-2006, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
ryccki06 New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	Help - have i been scammed?? Hi. I have a problem. I put my domain name up for sale and recieved an email from "SNN software" who said that they wished a quote in US$s. I gave them an outragous quote : $2000 because i thought that a real company would then try and barter me down. However this was the reply: Hello, > > > > > >Please let me know a quote in US dollars or Euros for the name >mentioned >in > > >the subject of this email. We saw it listed for sale. > > > > > >Our company develops software (mainly client-server systems). > > > > > >If you offer more domains for sale with good reselling potential >please > > >email us your list. > > > > > >Looking forward to do business with you. > > > > > >Regards, > > >Anthony Waldner > > >President > > >SNN Systems > > >Software Solutions AND THEN I REPLIED WITH THE QUOTE AND I GOT THIS: >2000 USD. Ok. > >Do you sell the name only without web site? I'm interested in the name so >web site is not so important. > >Do you have an appraisal certificate for your domain name? > >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. >I heard some appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. So I >will only accept appraisals from independent sources I >To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal >companies >in a forum >http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/97015.htm > >Just 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. > >After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations. > >How do you prefer to get paid: www.escrow.com, www.PayPal.com check or >wire? > >Hope we can come to an agreement fast. I hope some of you guys will be able to tell me whether this is a scam or whether i should go ahead with it. Cheers.

11-30-2006, 01:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
tricolorro NamePros Regular Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bronx.NY Posts: 777 370.00 NP$ (Donate)	Help - have i been scammed?? It is 100% a scam. Patrick

11-30-2006, 01:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
nmr86 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,527 107.91 NP$ (Donate)	ignore him !! its a big scammer.. he ( or that organisation ) is sending 1,000 of those mails out.. just to get a few bucks from appraisals.. say in the next mail: ** OFF SCAMMER __________________ Sony Ericsson Themes Chat Business**

11-30-2006, 01:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
nu-money NamePros Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 593 235.50 NP$ (Donate)	How can you know what is a scam and what is a genuine offer? What are the signs of a scam? __________________ bicee.com

11-30-2006, 02:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
lpstong Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SoPicture.us Posts: 1,583 7.55 NP$ (Donate)	Scam. Scammy. Scammer. Smells like a scam. Looks like a Scam. Reads like a scam. Oh did I mention it is a scam. Sorry about that. But I hate it when people do that. I had a company from sweden with pretty much the same wording to the email do that to me. And they only wanted the certificate with the company they choose. And each companies fee were like $75+. __________________ .. ■ █ Name Chatter : Domainers LIVE CHAT █ ■..

11-30-2006, 02:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
ryccki06 New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	thanks a lot for the quick replies. im going to enjoy sending him a nice polite email!! cheers.

12-01-2006, 06:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
Datalife NamePros Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Home and the internet Posts: 368 115.00 NP$ (Donate)	This sounds alot like the Opera Technologies scam, except its a different name they use here. I had received that Opera email before too, but I just ignored it..only to get another one for another domain a few days later, under a different "company" name.

12-01-2006, 07:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
WhiteWebServices NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gloucestershire, England Posts: 450 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	You should be able to waste some of his time without wasting too much of your own. Short, open-ended questions like "How exactly do these domain appraisals work?" or "Please could you explain the escrow process?" should work. __________________ White Web Services - Professional web design and HTML / CSS coding to W3C standards.

12-01-2006, 10:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Erdinc NamePros Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 599 542.00 NP$ (Donate)	This is definately a scam. Don't waste your time an energy. If you are selling domains list them at sedo and if somebody is interested in your domain send them the sedo link where your domain is advertised. If you hear the word "apprasial" in an email it is a scam. If somebody is interested in your domain respond them by saying "the domain is for sale at sedo and here is link". If the same person sends a second email say "go to sedo following this link" and if he sends a third email say "**** off" and mark the email as spam.

12-01-2006, 11:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
blackwizard Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: India Posts: 636 15.35 NP$ (Donate)	I also got the same mail. I did not reply to it. It was from "boss@sinnsyk.com" Should I reply or Ignore the message ? what to do? Thanks!

12-02-2006, 12:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
WORDSWORTH Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,569 207.83 NP$ (Donate)	There is a thread about this scam here at namepros. View it here I received an email from this scammer about one of my domains. The moment he asked me to spend my own money on an appraisal before he would buy, I knew it was dodgy. Trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it usually IS! __________________ Domains for sale, free available to register domain lists and much more! See my eBay auctions here View my full list of domains for sale at Sedo here

12-02-2006, 07:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
Mandalayfun New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 6 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	Actually I was going to comment to Patrick (the same thing... but the "WordsWorth" got me... figures). You asked how do you know? Well to me its sounds like you are figuring it out just fine ... you knew, which is why it didn't sit right and you are here asking. I am not a whole lot further removed from being a rookie than you are. But is fun learning. I was reminded very early in this adventure, that in this cyber world when it just somehow doesn't feel right, one definitely needs to trust those uneasy Gut Feelings and tingling Spidey Senses and at a minumum, take a 'time-out" . There are definitely are (like anywhere I guess) "a few bad apples" out in the anonymity of the ether. Take care, Wes PS I got the Opera one __________________ :hi: Last edited by Mandalayfun; 12-02-2006 at 07:25 PM.

12-03-2006, 12:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
kdom NamePros Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 54 9.60 NP$ (Donate)	Apraisals and scams I've received the same email. It is a scam. In general I would suggest, and I'd be interested in what others think of this, that appraisals should only be paid for by the buyer since they are for the buyer's "protection." This is how it is done with real estate. An appraisal is basically a second opinion that the buyer gets regarding the value of the domain and whether he is paying too much. Personally I don't think much of appraisals. A domain is like anything else. It is worth exactly what a buyer and seller mutually agree it is worth. But, if I were about to spend big money on a domain I might pay for an appraisal just as a sanity check. In general though, I would personally shy away from anyone asking a seller to pay for an appraisal and as a seller I would never pay for one under any circumstances. __________________ Kosmic Domains Cheap Domain Registrations at Kosmic Domains Become a reseller For sale now on Sedo and Ebay

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