Another scam letter "Elite Investment Group"

[VisualArtistFrankBonilla]

Just recived this scam letter:

Hello,

We buy and sell domains and web pr®jects. What is your price for the domain?

If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Brian Samuelson

CEO

WHC Web Hosting Consulting & Investment LLC

I looked them up on the internet, and here they are::

Domain valuation scam targets Sedo users « That Danny!

Of course, I knew it was scam right off. :zzz: Not even a good scam letter.

Frank

 

[Vito]

LOL,

Unfortunately, I got the same letter with a different name though...

--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected]

Hello,

We buy and sell domains and web pr®jects. What is your price for the domain?

If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Sebastian Brucker

CEO

Web Investment & Consulting LLC

-------------------------------------------------------

:lol:

 

[jim]

Verified appraisal scammer pitch:

I've discussed the price with my partners.

Can you accept 24,000 USD?

Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies.


If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15% discount.

After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.

 

[VisualArtistFrankBonilla]

Verified appraisal scammer pitch:

Boy, this scam could easily hook a beginner! Almost sounds true. But, of course, a big joke! Too bad we couldn't figure out how to scam a scammer!

Ha!

Frank

 

[jpaulhart]

seems like its coming from russia: 213.140.225.228 (always the same ip)

inetnum: 213.140.225.0 - 213.140.226.255
netname: CTC-Odincovo-NF_ATM
remarks: INFRA-AW
descr: Odincovo netflow pool
country: RU
admin-c: AVK103-RIPE
tech-c: AVK103-RIPE
status: ASSIGNED PA
mnt-by: MNT-CTC
source: RIPE # Filtered

person: Andry V. Kiselev
address: Joint-Stock Central Telecommunication Company
address: 29/2 Narodnogo Opolcheniya str.,
address: 123154, Moscow
address: Russia
remarks: phone: +7 095 5761099
phone: +7 495 5761099
remarks: fax-no: +7 095 4085299
fax-no: +7 495 4085299
e-mail: [email protected]
nic-hdl: AVK103-RIPE
source: RIPE # Filtered
remarks: modified for Russian phone area changes

% Information related to '213.140.224.0/19AS25515'

route: 213.140.224.0/19
descr: DELEGATED BLOCK
descr: Joint-Stock Central Telecommunication Company
descr: RU
origin: AS25515
mnt-by: CTC-MNT
source: RIPE # Filtered

 

[Fastburning]

Yes,it's always the same thing

Does he invite you to appraise your domains names manually

I think they're working for appraisal companies and promise you crazy prices before you appraise your dn manually

It's patent they are the owner of this companies or website ( i mean appraisal)

They just want to extort us money

F****NG B*****DS THEY ARE

Georg Reuter, etc and i suppose they violate the identity of important people.

Hello, we are the W*RN**R BROS PI*** AND WE ....

lol , they're all crooks !

Bye bye

 

[Rayito]

Jason Bergeron, [email protected]

Scam:

Can you accept 5,000 USD?

Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies.


If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15% discount.

After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.

Jason Bergeron

[email protected]

CEO

Elite Hosting Solutions LLC

 

[polyromcom]

Hello,

We buy/resell domains and developed sites. Now we consider your domain.
What is your price?

If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Jason Bergeron

CEO

Elite Hosting Solutions LLC


Out of the 100+ domains I have, the only place I've mentioned the one he's writing about is on this site in the chatroooooom. hmmmmm....!!!!! Perhaps he's trolling the posts/chat here...

 

[irsyadtmnazri]

I'm new here, and i fall for it... =(

I did a manual appraisal... and fall for it as well... i feel so dum now... T.T

 

[bmugford]

This scam has got many people. It has been going on for years.

I would dispute the charge with your CC company if that is how you paid.

Brad

I'm new here, and i fall for it... =(

I did a manual appraisal... and fall for it as well... i feel so dum now... T.T

 

[glaxxon]

I'm new here, and i fall for it... =(

I did a manual appraisal... and fall for it as well... i feel so dum now... T.T

And i saw your appraisal certificates you got, even they weren't anywhere close to the real value.
Atleast they can give a real decent appraisal.

Besides even i got similar emails, I played on and then in the end I insulted them pretty nicely.
The forums and links they point to are also so pathetic.
Never mind, but newbies can fall for them pretty easily.

 

[Kate]

I'm new here, and i fall for it... =(

I did a manual appraisal... and fall for it as well... i feel so dum now... T.T

Dispute the charges if you paid using a credit card. If enough people complain they will lose their card processing privileges.

 

[Rayito]

Dispute it even if you used PayPal.

 

[tdave]

Lesson Learned...Anyway,how thing goes?There is no reason why you can't dispute it,it's your money.

 

[iboughta]

The guy change his name again: He is now "Brad Ridding" - Email is [email protected]

>
> Hello,
>
> How much do you ask for this domain for sale?
>
> Our company buy and sell domains and developed sites.
>
> If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.
>
> Looking forward to do business with you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Brad Ridding
>
> CEO
>
> Elite Network Solutions LLC
> ========================================================

 

[itscaleb]

Ha! Thanks so much for posting about this, guys. A quick google search with the words 'Brad Riddin scam' brought me here. Glad to have received such inadvertently great advice.

Here's the email he sent me:

Caleb,

Thank you for very fast response.

Can you accept 15,000 USD?

Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies.

If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15% discount.

After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

 

[polyromcom]

Same here. just got it. Beware of elitenethosting.com.

>
> Hello,
>
> How much do you ask for this domain for sale?
>
> Our company buy and sell domains and developed sites.
>
> If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.
>
> Looking forward to do business with you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Brad Ridding
>
> CEO
>
> Elite Network Solutions LLC
> ================================================== ======

 

[oxyfolle]

just got this today on my email:

Hello,

How much do you ask for this domain for sale?

Our company buy and sell domains and developed sites.

If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Brad Ridding

CEO

Elite Network Solutions LLC
========================================================
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any
viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message
and deleting it from your computer.
========================================================

 

[Shanked]

Thank you for the warning!

Yes, I was excited at first to see this email......then I researched the name. Thank you all for posting......saved this noob from a scam.

Thanks again.......here is the letter FYI:

Hello,

How much do you ask for this domain for sale?

Our company buy and sell domains and developed sites.

If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Brad Ridding

CEO

Elite Network Solutions LLC
========================================================
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any
viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message
and deleting it from your computer.

Thanks again,

 

[Andr3w]

Got the same e-mail a few minutes ago from Brad Ridding )

 

[Archangel]

Same here. My reply:

Sorry, scammer. I don't work with trash like you. Next time, don't try to scam a professional. Besides, it's on eBay at under $30. lol Moron.

Do these scams even work anymore? lol

Got the same e-mail a few minutes ago from Brad Ridding )

 

[Archangel]

Funny enough, they replied to me, not addressing my reply but asking me again if I'd accept $1,000 and to use the link they gave me for an appraisal Dumb f*cks.

Same here. My reply:



Do these scams even work anymore? lol

 

[Idiot Domainer]

Just got one too.

From: ridding@elitenethosting. com

"Hello,

How much do you ask for this domain for sale?

Our company buy and sell domains and developed sites.

If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Brad Ridding

CEO

Elite Network Solutions LLC
========================================================
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any
viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message
and deleting it from your computer.
========================================================"

:red:

I don't even reply, I just deleted it.

 

[nirav.dave]

This is why I love namepros so much. Got myself one today from [email protected]

Hello,

How much do you ask for this domain for sale?

Our company buy and sell domains and developed sites. If you have other
domains for sale feel free to send your list.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,

Joseph Young

Vice President

Elite Hosting Solutions LLC
========================================================
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any
viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message
and deleting it from your computer.
========================================================

 

[DomainersCity]

Received the standard pitch posted several times above from Brad Ridding, and replied with what I thought was a high starting point for negotiation before I did any research. I had only owned the name for a week.

He sent the second canned message suggesting the appraisals in which he offered me $5000 for ReunionShows(dot)com. It is kind of catchy, but $5k? Get real! Assuming at this point that he was just pushing appraisals, I decided to play along.

(No offense to any REAL domain appraisers. My comments are designed to offend him.)

I responded that "Anyone who claims they can tell you the real value of a domain is a liar and a thief. EstiBot does just as good a job at prognosticating value." I also told him I was not interested in appraisals and if that was what he wanted just take me off his list.

And his reply was:

It's a standard practice to show independent valuation to buyers/resellers.
Nobody will do business without it. I'm a businessman and have no intention of changing rules which help both parties to avoid additional risks.

Of course, investors never take into account auto-generated valuations. So manual valuation is a "must" too.

I read the following information about appraisals at:
Domain Talk

Without the independent valuation from a trusted source we don't spend a penny. This is our financial policy. So our offer is just a rought estimate.
If the appraisal comes higher we are ready to offer a bit more. If it comes lower we will discuss the price with you again.


Thank you for understanding. I'm looking forward to do business with you.

He really should have just written me off. Up until now it was a minor annoyance. Now he is actively attempting to defraud me, and I hate that. Here is my response:

See, now you are just pissing me off. I tried to let you fade away gracefully, but you came back for more. I told you to remove me from your list if you were just pushing appraisals. You should have paid attention instead of poking the bear with the pointy stick.

I contend that you do not have, nor did you ever have any intention of purchasing any domain from me. I contend that you own or are somehow financially affiliated with domainexplorer.org and/or bestdomainexperts.com, both of which are registered through a registrar with only 621 domains in their private registry. Coincidence? I think not.

Domainexplorer.org is a redirect to SEDO, attempting to gain some credibility. The "conversation" you link to is obviously a work of fiction. The "open letter" you included in that crap is from 2001, and the rest of the dialog is just badly written. It is not the least bit credible. Young sent $4100 to the guy's PayPal account, THEN asks about escrow? Get real!

Bestdomainexperts.com was created on April 15, 2010.
On the home page are the following statistics:
Domains sold in March, 2010: 2,698
Average selling price: $ 6,042

That is $16,301,316.00 in one month. A month when the domain did not exist yet?

Pretty good revenue for a domain that did not exist! Or did they drop it? Forget to renew and lost it?

Or is this a fraudulent site utilizing false advertising to lure in unsuspecting consumers? I think the Federal Trade Commission needs to look into those claims.

I did not investigate any of the other domains in the thread, but I bet they are tied together.

You are a scumbag scammer trying to defraud people into paying for your incompetent appraisal services. I saw some of your "valuations" and they are as ignorant and fraudulent as your marketing strategies. You are the reason I avoid appraisals in the first place. You have absolutely no idea what a domain is worth, but you try to convince other people that you do.

Am I pissing you off? I hope so, because your unethical and immoral tactics sicken me and I could use a good vendetta. Ask David Rubel over at 1and1 just how badly you do not want to antagonize me. Even better, ask Google about "David Rubel 1and1" or "David Rubel fraud".

If you are located in the U.S., you should start looking into the latest FTC guidelines. If not, keep your eye on Google.

Disrespectfully,
Brian Gothard

What do you folks think? Too harsh?