Annoying: Domainers with even crappier names

[domainsoup]

It's annoying enough to have decent domains sit on Sedo with offer views and no serious bids.

You know what's more annoying? When your domain doesn't sell but you keep getting e-mails from domainers with crappier variations of your domain, trying to sell them to you!

Ex: You own videoexample.com and it gets no serious offers. Then you get e-mails

"Dear Sir,
Would you be interested in videoexamplelivenow.com? Please respond back to me I am thinking of a modest fee for a completed transaction.

LOL I cannot even sell my domain name. But you want me to buy a crappier version from you? Ah, good old domaining.

Does it happen to you?

 

[HUKU]

worst part is when you think you might be getting an email from an end user inquiring about a domain and it is just another domainer spamming you with a junk domain they are trying to sell you. It drives me nuts.

These emails tend to raise hopes and drop hopes in exactly the way you described, especially when they put your domain name in the subject title. I can imagine thousands of domainers all around the world opening these emails every morning before breakfast and having their hopes dashed. I've started to wonder about the morality of potentially responding with something like this:

"Hi and thanks for the suggestion. We will consider your <crappydomain.com> but our budget is limited.

I am not making an offer for <crappydomain.com> at this time but i'm just testing the waters here at this level to see if you think it might work at circa $80,000 (Eighty Thousand US dollars) and this suggested price range is subject further research and appraisal. And in this case, you would need to assure me that YOU would cover escrow charges. Can you give an indication of your thoughts on the matter?"

I DO NOT urge anyone try a response like this. Firstly, its unethical to lead a domainer in this way no matter how much enjoyment you might derive from the "revenge factor" and secondly, the following three points:

(1) Google searches for the definition of the word "circa" would spike instantly. When the word comes directly before a large sum of money, you really want to know what it means and fast (you're right, that includes a presumption that the spammer doesn't already know!).

(2) Some domainers are so deluded to the point where, at first, they will jump out of their trousers and if theres a cable on their lap, it might knock their laptop off the table resulting in damage or worse.

(3) When they respond emphatically with a yes, you let them know that: "My partner thinks im over paying, in fact he thinks its not worth even reg fee.... but ill come back to you later if we can meet you somewhere in the middle."

 

[cordoba]

As somebody who owns nearly 2k names, I get at least 2 or 3 of these type of e-mails a day. I'm not actually a domainer really, so I always assumed that this is how you guys sell your names, lol.

I'm pretty sure it's done through automated spam software, as some of the names are so bad any human being would be able to see there was no real connection between the name offered and my domain name.

 

[heavend]

I get these every day, about 15-20 of them or so on average.

Here is my take on them.

I traced them almost always 100 % to deleted / dropped domains. In other words, someone came up with a very easy scheme, where - all they do is take a look at deleted domain names listing, which are coming up at any of those deleted domains auctions - snapnames, etc. So they see there are no bids for example, and the domain consist of 3 words. They take a look at the whois ownership of the people who own those 2 words, or combination and write tons of emails. (I assume they are working from jails, since only there you have this much time) Now, the scheme is simple and free. If I say yes, I am interested, they ask for couple of hundred dollars, depending on the name, and then try to win this domain name on the auction for less. If they do, great, they made profit. If they don't, they simply disappear. Since all of them are writing from one time use free gmail or other free accounts, you will never be able to trace them.

I actually answered a few, and got reply. Then we agreed on the price, and they never came back. I also traced those names tot he aftermarket place and saw the names being sold for more. Obviously I never got replies, but what these people end up doing is raising the actual prices (like shell bidding) on those names, on the speculation that you will rebuy it from them. I also assume that some of those spammers will simply try to take your money and disappear as well. So my advise is even if you do answer and work out a deal which goes through - USE ESCROW always.

 

[drsheraz]

I always ask them to buy my domain please. They never reply back.

 

[TERADOMAIN]

Hahahaha.. I receive so many emails like this everyday... I just ignore them..

 

[Frank Pavilonis]

Lol...I've had that happen before, then I got smart and starting buying the private whois feature with each domain purchase going forward.

FYI - Uniregistry offers free whois privacy. Email me and ill give all my fellow NP people discounts.

frankp @ Uniregistry . com

 

[HotKey]

I get them all the time, too. The world is full of bottom feeders. I just ignore them, they are annoying at most. Lots have people have mentioned whois privacy helps. I find that it does help, but since it's not 100% I don't throw away cash paying extra for it.

Does anyone know which part of the whois records these bottom feeders are using to extract these emails? For example, the whois contains 4 sections: admin, registrant, tech and billing. Or do they just milk the whole record?

 

[DANEYAL]

For the Past 2 Years I have only Received about 5 emails only & those too were almost simple decent names, not the rubbish ones.
So, I am a little worried I should at least receive a mail at least once a month.

 

[heavend]

@DANEYAL it's probably because your whois data is hidden.

 

[DANEYAL]

@DANEYAL it's probably because your whois data is hidden.

I have actually never used a privacy option for any of the names I intend to sell. May be I have only listed most of the times at Flippa, if I had used the afternic that would have boosted exposure to other domainers as well. Or may be because my posts & everything else reflects me as a seller only (Poor SELLER & that is true fortunately.

 

[biggie]

It's annoying enough to have decent domains sit on Sedo with offer views and no serious bids.

You know what's more annoying? When your domain doesn't sell but you keep getting e-mails from domainers with crappier variations of your domain, trying to sell them to you!

Ex: You own videoexample.com and it gets no serious offers. Then you get e-mails

"Dear Sir,
Would you be interested in videoexamplelivenow.com? Please respond back to me I am thinking of a modest fee for a completed transaction.

LOL I cannot even sell my domain name. But you want me to buy a crappier version from you? Ah, good old domaining.

Does it happen to you?

sure does, check this thread i created about same subject:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/emails-from-domainers-selling-crap-names.742232/


you probably received emails from some of the same folks mentioned in the thread.

 

[Bannen]

Here's a suggestion that might 'kill two birds with one stone': do a REVERSE APPRAISAL SCAM. This is genius, and I just thought of it right now because I am eating Mini-wheats, which I think are very nurturing to brain health and creativity:

Find a link to one of the appraisal scam websites, where the appraisal scammers send newbies to buy a fake appraisal. Then when one of these other guys asks you if you want to buy one of these crappy domains because it is 'similar' to your (hopefully much better) domain, you say that you wouldn't consider buying their domain until they can send you an official appraisal certificate for it, to prove their domain has value. Send them a link to the appraisal scam website and tell them you'll accept an appraisal from this site. You are welcome to laugh while you are sending that email.

With luck, some of these spammy domainers don't know about the appraisal scam and will get excited and buy the appraisal. If this happens often enough maybe they will become disgusted and disillusioned by how much money they are losing due to paying for appraisals and then none of us actually buy their crappy domain, and they will look for a better business model. And the other benefit is that maybe the appraisal scammers will get a nice increase of business from these spammers, and not email us so much either. In other words, the spammers pay the scammers. It's genius.

Okay, I'm dreaming. But it's a nice solution to dream about

 

[korganian]

Here's a suggestion that might 'kill two birds with one stone': do a REVERSE APPRAISAL SCAM. This is genius, and I just thought of it right now because I am eating Mini-wheats, which I think are very nurturing to brain health and creativity:

Find a link to one of the appraisal scam websites, where the appraisal scammers send newbies to buy a fake appraisal. Then when one of these other guys asks you if you want to buy one of these crappy domains because it is 'similar' to your (hopefully much better) domain, you say that you wouldn't consider buying their domain until they can send you an official appraisal certificate for it, to prove their domain has value. Send them a link to the appraisal scam website and tell them you'll accept an appraisal from this site. You are welcome to laugh while you are sending that email.

With luck, some of these spammy domainers don't know about the appraisal scam and will get excited and buy the appraisal. If this happens often enough maybe they will become disgusted and disillusioned by how much money they are losing due to paying for appraisals and then none of us actually buy their crappy domain, and they will look for a better business model. And the other benefit is that maybe the appraisal scammers will get a nice increase of business from these spammers, and not email us so much either. In other words, the spammers pay the scammers. It's genius.

Okay, I'm dreaming. But it's a nice solution to dream about

I fail to see your logic in how an increase in business income for the scammers would make them want to stop sending out as many emails. It would surely have the exact opposite effect.

 

[Bannen]

I fail to see your logic in how an increase in business income for the scammers would make them want to stop sending out as many emails. It would surely have the exact opposite effect.

My entire post was tongue-in-cheek. If you try to find logic in it, your brain will gyrate itself into a pretzel and cause a stroke. Stop thinking about it immediately.

 

[heavend]

Here's a suggestion that might 'kill two birds with one stone': do a REVERSE APPRAISAL SCAM. This is genius, and I just thought of it right now because I am eating Mini-wheats, which I think are very nurturing to brain health and creativity:

Find a link to one of the appraisal scam websites, where the appraisal scammers send newbies to buy a fake appraisal. Then when one of these other guys asks you if you want to buy one of these crappy domains because it is 'similar' to your (hopefully much better) domain, you say that you wouldn't consider buying their domain until they can send you an official appraisal certificate for it, to prove their domain has value. Send them a link to the appraisal scam website and tell them you'll accept an appraisal from this site. You are welcome to laugh while you are sending that email.

With luck, some of these spammy domainers don't know about the appraisal scam and will get excited and buy the appraisal. If this happens often enough maybe they will become disgusted and disillusioned by how much money they are losing due to paying for appraisals and then none of us actually buy their crappy domain, and they will look for a better business model. And the other benefit is that maybe the appraisal scammers will get a nice increase of business from these spammers, and not email us so much either. In other words, the spammers pay the scammers. It's genius.

Okay, I'm dreaming. But it's a nice solution to dream about

i think it's only worth it - if you are the one selling appraisals - then it's a good idea. They pay $50 for appraisal to you / domain, and you appraise it to be worth $45. Then it's a laughing matter. Unfortunately, as I mentioned before, i bet those emails come straight from jail, so .... there maybe consequences, so in no way I am suggesting to either create or work with fake appraising companies - but it's fun to think of these ideas...

 

[domainsoup]

I think I noticed a trend with this spam.

They send out messages during the last few days when their domain is in pending delete.

Message received today:
"According to my information you hold a similar domain name to mine.
I was wondering if you would be curious about obtaining the ******(com) ?

Quick check:
Status: pendingDelete

 

[Ms Domainer]

I think I noticed a trend with this spam.

They send out messages during the last few days when their domain is in pending delete.

Message received today:
"According to my information you hold a similar domain name to mine.
I was wondering if you would be curious about obtaining the ******(com) ?

Quick check:
Status: pendingDelete

It is more likely that these spammers are front runners (in other words, they don't even own the domain).

I tolerate these numpties because occasionally I snag a nice domain -- not from them, but on the actual drop.

They are my eyes and ears.

 

[affable]

I tolerate these numpties because occasionally I snag a nice domain -- not from them, but on the actual drop.

They are my eyes and ears.

Well that's a great way to look at it that I didn't think of! I'll have to keep that in mind and maybe pay more attention to my spam folder.

Thanks for the insight!

P.S. Love that word, "numpties"! :D

 

[.NJ]

Is it just me, or are 95% of these spam mails from a woman??

Just about all mine are from woman.

My last five were:

Carmina
Katrice
Matilde
Mina
Gloria

WTF!

LOL

 

[affable]

Is it just me, or are 95% of these spam mails from a woman??

Just about all mine are from woman.

My last five were:

Carmina
Katrice
Matilde
Mina
Gloria

WTF!

LOL

The ones I received the last couple of days were all from female names with the exception of one.

Stephanie
Maria
Michael
Sara