Dynadot

WARNING: How to Avoid Domain Scams and Scammers

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Prevention:

Google the domain (also try adding words like stolen, scammed, help, missing, etc), asking other domainers about the domain in question, checking the various marketplaces and making sure things add up... The biggest single indicator of a potential scam is the price. A scammer will want to price the domain low enough that it sells before he gets caught. Keep a watchful eye on new members. Recently modified whois is another warning sign. If other indicators are present (ex. extremely low price), proceed with extreme caution.

Some known scams:

1. Appraisal Scam -- If they ask for an appraisal, it's probably a scam.

2. Snail mail scam letters -- Letters through the mail reminding you to renew your domains from companies which aren't your current registrar

3. Compromised web-based email accounts and keyloggers -- Using an email provided to you by your Internet Service Provider is generally safer than web-based email solutions. There have been known security flaws in certain webmail applications in the past (ex. Gmail) which made compromising member accounts considerably easier than guessing a password. Understand the risks involved with using a web-based solution. Download spyware software such as Adaware Lavasoft and scan your computer daily. Keyloggers are A) easy to put on someone's computer and B) potentially catastrophic to a web based business.

4. Unauthorizing funds (particularly bad with Paypal). Paypal makes it very easy to create chargebacks. Don't accept large amounts by Paypal unless you're dealing with people you absolutely trust. Moneybookers/Escow.com are a step above Paypal, however the best option would be to go with a true escrow service such as Sedo Escrow, Moniker Domain Escrow Service or EscrowDNS.

5. Emails saying your domain requires renew/transfer/you to take a certain action. Check the email and make sure that A) it's from your registrar and B) the url mentioned matches what your registrar's would be. Safer to just visit the registrar than click the links in the email.

6. Incorrect Whois emails -- if your whois isn't incorrect, beware. Phone your registrar if you think they made a mistake.

7. Traffic/Click Fraud -- Self explanatory. If it isn't direct navigation it shouldn't be sold as such. Due diligence is required here.

8. Hijacking -- If you use one of your own domain names as the nameserver, be sure to make sure it doesn't expire or someone could fraudulently gain control of your domains.

9. Escrow.com is NOT 100% safe. They do not cover stolen domains -- buyer beware. Don't think processing a "bargain" through Escrow.com won't potentially end in you being out money. In the event a domain is stolen from someone's account, the domain WILL be returned to the original owner and you'll be out whatever you paid for the domain.

10. One thing I should add: Most free webmail providers will delete accounts after certain periods of inactivity. A clever scammer could notice that your Hotmail/Yahoo/other webmail account had expired, register that same email address (which is now available) and then proceed to "Request Password" at various registrars using what was previously your email address. If you plan on using your webmail infrequently, it's recommend you verify what amount of inactivity is tolerable and won't result in email account deletion.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
INDIGIAN.com said:
I'm trying to get him to push me 35 bucks for one domain so I can see where his paypal is coming from
Even so. It might be "stolen" Paypal account. Be careful.
 
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thks for the warning I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible.
 
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Here's what I have found out:
He claims he is based in India, uses the IM: eximprise
FYI Eximprise Technologies is Delhi-based ( don't know if this guy is somehow a part of this company)
 
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He told me he works for Enom? says that he has a bunch of domains with swiss commerce. If he is a scammer he claims he has already purchased 15k worth of domains. YIIIIKES!!!!!
 
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D-: Well he's probably not a scammer IMO
INDIGIAN.com said:
he claims he has already purchased 15k worth of domains. YIIIIKES!!!!!
 
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well thats what I am here to do. Find out whether he is reliable or not. 15k worth of domains and no trader rating plus all of the other red flags. I'm not saying he is a scammer I just wanted some added security because he insists on paypal.
 
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INDIGIAN.com said:
well thats what I am here to do. Find out whether he is reliable or not. 15k worth of domains and no trader rating plus all of the other red flags. I'm not saying he is a scammer I just wanted some added security because he insists on paypal.
Ask him to tell you any of the domains he bought.


BTW, One of the scammers who reported in this thread before was claiming that he bought/buying domains up to 50k+ .. So I don't think it's safe enough because he told you that. IMO
 
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Yea I understand, good luck on your possible sale.
INDIGIAN.com said:
well thats what I am here to do. Find out whether he is reliable or not. 15k worth of domains and no trader rating plus all of the other red flags. I'm not saying he is a scammer I just wanted some added security because he insists on paypal.
 
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thanks for your help guys i will keep you updated
 
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Excellent find, I wouldn't deal with him at all.
filter said:
this guy?
 
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hard to say exactly what's going on, but would definitely want to know a lot more before doing anything via PayPal, that's for sure!
 
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If anyone has serious doubts about dealing with someone who they believe to be a potential scammer, I'd recommend pming Namepros Management -- they can do things us normal domainers can't, like IP checks. Funny enough, you wouldn't believe how many scammers are too stupid to use a proxy :)
 
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watch out for this person as well! another NP member was kind enough to send me a link to this thread on DP, where i sent a pm and received a list.... OF MY OWN NAMES!! eek!

http://forums.DigitalPoint/showthread.php?t=866734

big scam!! these are my names, not any "client" of alexralph!!!

sp
 
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serge20 has also been contacting me about purchasing a lot of LLLL from me. He's offered to buy from me and, while he seems shady, he's agreed (though not gone through yet) to using escrow.com's premium service. I'll update here if I experience anything worth posting.
 
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hey i just dealt with serge good luck I didn't see a cent from him but then again I was pretty weary
 
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just a reminder: do NOT BUY NAMES FROM ALEXRALPH on DP!!


despite my contact with mods there, they refuse to take any action despite my willingness to back up my claim he is a danger to the forum...... i couldn't believe that they are only willing to give infractions for spam pm's, but a case of identity theft is no problem.....

another member contacted me after i posted in his thread saying alexralph was STILL sending pms offering to sell names that whois shows are mine.... very annoying and frustrating! STEER CLEAR of ALEXRALPH!!!

denver
 
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SlimPickins said:
watch out for this person as well! another NP member was kind enough to send me a link to this thread on DP, where i sent a pm and received a list.... OF MY OWN NAMES!! eek!

http://forums.DigitalPoint/showthread.php?t=866734

big scam!! these are my names, not any "client" of alexralph!!!

sp


i was the one who was scammed :( asked cc bank to chargeback he is fisher
 
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winson said:
i was the one who was scammed :( asked cc bank to chargeback he is fisher

Give him an -ve itrader, that's the best you can do to alert others on DP.
It's pitiful that DP mods don't do anything to stop fraud, and I've basically
left DP because of this attitude.
 
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DP s***ks....
There Mods have no control over anything... they just know how to give infractions...
if u check out DP, you will see most of their reputed members are banned... and most of the members remain banned....

I am speaking from experience... I have got infractions on threads where i had no fault as well...
 
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winson said:
i was the one who was scammed :( asked cc bank to chargeback he is fisher

i agree with ddchan, give alexralph negative itrader so its at least a glaring signal to potential buyers... and POST what happened in the thread i opened (to warn people about alexralph) after mods on dp opted not to take my recommendation that he/she is a danger to the safety of the forum and ban the person....

http://forums.DigitalPoint/showthread.php?t=874340

sp
 
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I'm in the process of completing a transaction with him, in which he contacted me, we'll see what happens but so far as he seems very legit.
jehnidiah said:
serge20 has also been contacting me about purchasing a lot of LLLL from me. He's offered to buy from me and, while he seems shady, he's agreed (though not gone through yet) to using escrow.com's premium service. I'll update here if I experience anything worth posting.
 
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lets hope he gets enough good trader rating where he can be trusted....good luck
 
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Thanks!

It has been a while since we completed the transaction, so I must say that serge20 is a very reliable and is not a scammer. :)
INDIGIAN.com said:
lets hope he gets enough good trader rating where he can be trusted....good luck
I would like to report a suspicious person that I would NOT do business with:

Mark Taylor ([email protected])
a.k.a.
"ManKat"
"sunny23"
"Mark.Taylor"

He does business via email and demands that you push first, or that you push half, and then he send you payment.

In the entire conversation I had with him, he was acting very suspicious.
 
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Idees said:
I would like to report a suspicious person that I would NOT do business with:

Mark Taylor ([email protected])
a.k.a.
"ManKat"
"sunny23"
"Mark.Taylor"

He does business via email and demands that you push first, or that you push half, and then he send you payment.

In the entire conversation I had with him, he was acting very suspicious.

Yeah, this guy came onto NameChatter.com, and started offering people money for there LLLL.coms. He did seem somewhat suspicious and eager to make a deal via paypal, and he also would not agree to use Escrow.com for a large dollar deal.

Thanks for the heads up Idees!! Much appreciated.
 
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