$10K Afternic transaction canceled after transfer

[Nick]

Got this email late Saturday night:

Provided auth code, domain released, in GoDaddy's possession, buyer's info updated on WHOIS:

Then I get this gem a little bit ago:

I try logging into my account and they suspended it. LOL So, I call up Afternic and they tell me their partner (GoDaddy) can't verify the customer's payment. Now I'm confused.

Payment was verified, you asked me to transfer the domain, I transfer the domain and all of a sudden the payment is not verified?

Is this not a breach of contract?

 

[Nick]

Hi Nick

sorry this has happened to you

question: does the transaction number in the first email stating your name was sold, match the transaction number in the last email that says the transaction was cancelled?

also, in the header of first email, I notice it states the email is from [email protected] and then a trailing id numbers ending with salesforce.com

in my afternic email, it states email is from ta=afternic.com and then the trailing id numbers...
I know that is a small difference, but ….

my first thought is that you may have got a spoof email, stating the name was sold, to have you go thru that process and transfer it.

I hope that is not the case, but I would check any previous sold emails you received from afternic, just to eliminate that chance.

hope you get domain back or get paid for it.

imo….

Yes, they do match. I did notice that salesforce email, as well. In this case, the emails are legit and this whole transaction was verified by me when I spoke to someone at Afternic on the phone this morning, before getting this last email from them.

 

[Nick]

Here's another thing I'm wondering. Why was the domain transferred immediately to the buyer, rather than an Afternic or Godaddy holding account?

Good question.

 

[Atta]

question: does the transaction number in the first email stating your name was sold, match the transaction number in the last email that says the transaction was cancelled?

also, in the header of first email, I notice it states the email is from [email protected] and then a trailing id numbers ending with salesforce.com

I also think the first email was a spoof. I just checked old Afternic emails and found that they always used secureserver.net SMTP mail server owned by GD. However, this email was sent through SalesForce which looks suspicious to me.

 

[Nick]

I also think the first email was a spoof. I just checked old Afternic emails and found that they always used secureserver.net SMTP mail server owned by GD. However, this email was sent through SalesForce which looks suspicious to me.

The email wasn't a spoof. Everything was done through Afternic.com, including me providing the auth code.

 

[DaveX]

So now....
You have no payment...
You have no domain...
You have no Afternic account.

And you were just minding your own business when the emails started.

Just terrible. They need to fix this for you immediately. Should be some penalty they should pay you.

 

[bmugford]

Hopefully @Joe Styler can take a look at this and clarify what happened.

Brad

 

[Internet.Domains]

Assuming there is no spoof or social engineering going on, how does the transaction go from, "we have successfully verified the payment" to "we couldn't verify the buyer had the funds?"

 

[Nick]

And you were just minding your own business when the emails started.

That's what really gets me, TBH.

 

[Nick]

Assuming there is no spoof or social engineering going on, how does the transaction go from, "we have successfully verified the payment" to "we couldn't verify the buyer had the funds?"

So, I'm looking and I see you can't even buy the name directly on GoDaddy itself, which tells me it was done through Afternic. Afternic doesn't even allow payments over $2500 via credit card or PayPal, which means it must have been a bank transfer - which further adds to the mystery.

 

[bmugford]

Yes, they do match. I did notice that salesforce email, as well. In this case, the emails are legit and this whole transaction was verified by me when I spoke to someone at Afternic on the phone this morning, before getting this last email from them.

I took a look at my most recent "Sold - Authorization Code Required" email from Afternic and the header also shows salesforce.com. In fact, the last several did.

Brad

 

[BaileyUK]

Terrible behavior by Afternic or their own Authorized partners. Domain sales and transfers have become a nightmare since all these agent tie-ins began.

Ever since Sedo asked me to take responsibility for some Sale funds being 'Genuine' from a buyer in Tunisia (how the bloody hell I'm supposed to know if the payment is genuine - is beyond me) I no longer react to any Sale pending (or confirmed) email for at least 48 hours. They are all too bloody quick to want to add another sale to their stats for my liking.

At least the domain is still in an American controlled space, could've been in China by now. The first thing I'd be doing is making sure Godaddy have it locked down. Doubt you'll get anything more than some 'Glitch' explanation from Afternic

 

[slader23]

Why on Earth does Afternic require a bank transfer for payments higher than $2500...it's 2019, at this point they are just creating more friction between buyers and sellers by not having up to date payment processing. You should be able to use your CC or a high limit visa debit card for at least $25k and anything higher should be accepted with additional KYC i.e national ID, passport, drivers license etc.

 

[Nick]

Why on Earth does Afternic require a bank transfer for payments higher than $2500...it's 2019, at this point they are just creating more friction between buyers and sellers by not having up to date payment processing. You should be able to use your CC or a high limit visa debit card for at least $25k and anything higher should be accepted with additional KYC i.e national ID, passport, drivers license etc.

Well, as a seller, I appreciate it because there's less of a chance for fraud.

For anyone wondering where I got that info from:

 

[slader23]

Well, as a seller, I appreciate it because there's less of a chance for fraud.

For anyone wondering where I got that info from:

Add Full KYC with goverment issue ID and there shouldn't be a problem, combined with a 2FA for accepting all incoming/outgoing transactions and you've got even more security. Fraud should be minimized with more advanced security and AML/KYC procedures not antiquated payment processes.

The point I'm trying to make is that these limits...need to be updated and so does whatever payment verification protocol they are using. Almost every online buy/seller marketplace is more up to date in comparison to Afternic. I mean honestly, the parent company GD has integrated log-in with Amazon, yet you still can't spend more than $5000 on your CC for a domain name...imagine the customer experience of someone who doesn't understand domain names but logged into their account through that portal is trying to buy a domain name for their business at $6000 and has to now initiate a wire via Escrow.com, rather than simply using a CC/Debit visa of their choice, preferably the card already listed as their primary card on Amazon. This is what I mean by friction. Complicated/Outdated payment processes will negatively effect your ability to generate new business. Again it's 2019.....the technology is already available...whats the wait?

 

[Nick]

FWIW, today ended with me getting this from Afternic:

So, I emailed the buyer and he just responded:

 

[FavourB]

Am happy issues sorted out

 

[Nick]

Am happy issues sorted out

Issues as far as buyer victim getting their money back and them eventually getting my name back - yes.

Issues are far as a shitty way to run a marketplace, no. The funds were not actually verified when Afternic sent me the notification. That was a false statement - a complete lie.

If Afternic wants to treat GoDaddy like a partner, instead of the same company, and this domain was purchased through GoDaddy, then GoDaddy should be held to the same standards of being legally bound to contractual obligations as any regular Joe who makes a purchase through Afternic.

If Afternic wants to say they're the same company as GoDaddy, then they should be playing by their own rules of not accepting payments over $2500 via credit card or PayPal and ACTUALLY verifying the transactions before wasting the seller's time.

I'm not agreeing to a 17.5% commission to have my time wasted. I'm agreeing to it for simplicity and peace of mind - neither of which were provided.

 

[mAd MaX]

Got this email late Saturday night:

Provided auth code, domain released, in GoDaddy's possession, buyer's info updated on WHOIS:

Then I get this gem a little bit ago:

I try logging into my account and they suspended it. LOL So, I call up Afternic and they tell me their partner (GoDaddy) can't verify the customer's payment. Now I'm confused.

Payment was verified, you asked me to transfer the domain, I transfer the domain and all of a sudden the payment is not verified?

Is this not a breach of contract?

It's a breach of everything...damn thugs!

 

[YairDD]

even though you got your domain back, this is still worrying and should not happen. they should actually verify the payment before sending you an email.

 

[Windoms]

FWIW, today ended with me getting this from Afternic:

So, I emailed the buyer and he just responded:

So the buyer is saying someone used his account to buy a domain from you right?
Your first email states 10k transaction. He's talking about 35k.
They used his account to buy an additional 25k worth of domains from other people?
The domain you sold for 10k, is it a liquid domain?