Beware Guys, New Scam Read all about it here

[dotstate.com]

Hi everyone,

Does any one receive this kind of email yet.I thought i share this info with everyone at NAMEPROS.

I think another CONMAN/COMPANY ON THE NET

Ist Mail looks normal;
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 20:35:12 -0700>
>Hello
>my Name is Steve Strand i am the administrator for ezeweb a small but busy
>webdesign company,well to get right to the point i have a client who is
>extremly interested in your domain name.
>What is the price you are asking for this name.I would be willing to pay
>any
>reasonable amount to aquire this name as soon as possible
>Hope to hear from you soon
>Steve Strand

2nd email.10 April 2006 01:45:28

There is another important issue for me. Some of my friends lost money after buying stolen names. Others had problems with trademarks. So I must be sure you are the real owner and your domain name has no trademark conflicts.

This is a serious problem for the whole domain industry. You can read about the problem at
http://www.stopscum.com/archives/i_j..._was_easy.html
More information about trademark conflicts can be found at
http://www.patents.com/dno.htm

I hope now you understand why I need to verify this information before we go further.

I made my online research and found two reliable services we could use to verify your domain name.

First service URL http://www.legalzoom.com

But their service "WorldScan U.S. and International Search $499.00" is very expensive for us.

I found a cheaper service - http://www.domaincheckers.net/domainchecks.htm
These guys were recommended as Internet security professionals. Looks like this service is unique because I've not found anything similar in the Internet. They will verify your domain through the stolen names database and will run other tests. I'm not a lawyer and need a professional opinion on the trademark issue. After we check your domain name we'll proceed with the payment through paypal or the service of your choice.This "check domain" service allows to split the fees 50% / 50% between buyer and seller.The fee is $110 dollars or $ 55 dollars for each party ,the buyer and the seller. I thinks it's fair.

When the results come back from them and everything checks out alright with your domain name"and im sure it will" I will be more than happy to add the price you paid for the domain name checking service to the price i am paying for the domain,please understand i am not trying to be diffucult i just need to protect myself and my client from having any issues with this domain.I hope you understand.



After everything is checked out and i make the payment to you for your domain name,i will put you in touch with our tec support person Sara Hearst,she will handle all the details of transfering the domain over to our registry.
I've already ordered my part and paid $55 fee. I specified your email address so you must receive a confirmation from them shortly. You should submit your information and they will check your domain name.

They will email us the results within 1-2 business days.


Kindest Regards,

3rd mail from the company ?

TRANSACTION INFORMATION
A Buyer (Steve Strand [email protected]) has selected our verification service for your domain.

Steve Stand paid the $55 fee and submitted your domain for verification at
http://www.domaincheckers.net/domainchecks.html

This person specified your email address as the domain owner's address.

In order to complete this transaction you should submit your order by clicking on the above link



If you are using our service for the first time please read the information below.

Buyer and Seller split the costs of service 50/50% in order to prove their credibility.

Full protection against stolen domains and domains with trademark conflicts. Our Internet and domain security experts will check your domain name. It's very important for domain buyer and seller to know that domain name is not stolen and has no tardemark problems or conflicts. Now you can sell and buy domains safely.
[....]
Sincerely,
James Edwards
Service Manager

So what you think guys they want to share 50/50 of the cost (LOL) even though the name in question is not worth that much i think i just registered it
and its being sold through SEDO.CO.UK and its parked at SEDO.CO.UK as well.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

DOTSTATE

 

[Malaysia]

LOL..this is really the another appraisal scam mail.. funny one n thks for posting.. anyway a domainer will know its fishy however a lot ppl out there get conned n pay for those appraisals or verification process.. sigh... poor victims

 

[deet]

yep, looks like another bogus email scam!

 

[kev]

memories....

This is the reason how i got into domains in the first place. A guy said he would offer 800 euros if i got an appraisal through this shady place. I then thought people are willing to pay a lot for domains so i regged a few in high expectation that i could do similar sales (funny the standard of them...ha). I then asked a few forum members what they thought of it and they said it was a scam!

So i started doing a bit of research and now have a few good names to boast. That email was a blessing in disguise :hehe:

 

[fonzie_007]

The first email tipped off the whole thing was a scam. I have a client who really really really wants your domain who is willing to pay ANY reasonable amount... lol

 

[988]

i had the same offer last week.. he was interested in one of my domain so i replied to him with a price he then replied with the same exact 2nd email.. although i did not get the 3rd email.. i suspected that it was a scam so i did not even bother.

 

[Shorty]

Wow, they'll go to all that trouble too...making all these websites and everything.

It's quite elaborate. Ridiculous, and blatently a scam, but elaborate...

Lesson number one to new sellers...never go through a paid appraisal service that the approaching buyer reccomends..

 

[alex_d]

http://www.domaincheckers.net/domainchecks.html

Would you trust paying a website for a check when there site isnt even working ??


PAGE NOT FOUND !!!

Very professional I do not think.



Alex


Also, by doing a whois check, it seems that these "professionals" only registered their website on the 21st March 2006.

 

[evermore2000]

I've just recieve an email 10 mins after reading this thread with a similar contents. Here it is:

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

Hello,

Did you get offers from other people already?

What is your price for the domain mentioned in the subject line?

I'm very interested in this name.

I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and databases in MS SQL and Delphi. Buying and selling domain names is not my main business. Just another way to invest money and make additional income.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Best regards,
Paul Hansen Ph.D.
CEO
DIT Engineering

============================================================================
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.

===========================================================================


The fact they dont actually mention the domain they are interested in in the actual email makes me think that it is just an email template that they send out to everyone and they just change the Subject of the email with the domain for each person.

hmmmm............

Also, it was sent to my email address that I registered the domain with and not the address that it is listed on sedo with. I would have thought they would have contacted me through sedo if they were genuine.

 

[Silhouette]

I've just recieve an email 10 mins after reading this thread with a similar contents. Here it is:
.....
Paul Hansen Ph.D.
CEO
DIT Engineering

Hi evermore2000,
I have rev. this email too, exact, content 100% the same, I was about to reply, and see your post.... looks like I can save the trouble typing

 

[sker]

Ok next time if you got any of these emails just tell them that the FBI & the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit blacklisted those sites for money laundering associated with Islamic extremist and International terrorism. Then demand $100 or otherwise you'll reveal their IP address to The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.

Finito!

 

[SimpleDomaining]

peoples mind working non-stop. the sad part is that its working non-stop on the question how to scam another person. this creative brain could be used for much better things.

 

[Shorty]

Ok next time if you got any of these emails just tell them that the FBI & the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit blacklisted those sites for money laundering associated with Islamic extremist and International terrorism. Then demand $100 or otherwise you'll reveal their IP address to The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.

Finito!

:lol: Nice, very nice. *writes it down*

 

[aLeeOnline]

peoples mind working non-stop. the sad part is that its working non-stop on the question how to scam another person. this creative brain could be used for much better things.

ur so right gugush, the creative brain isnt just used at all !

 

[America First]

Ok next time if you got any of these emails just tell them that the FBI & the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit blacklisted those sites for money laundering associated with Islamic extremist and International terrorism. Then demand $100 or otherwise you'll reveal their IP address to The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.

Finito!

And that is how it ends :tu:
Sker, GREAT!

 

[mis_chiff]

Actually I got the same one, but in my subject - they did
have the name of the domain
I told him it was listed at sedo for $5,000.
He told me to get an apprasial - I told him he would need to
pay for it if he wanted an apprasial as I couldn't care less if it sits there for 10 years....

Subject : juicey.info (sent 04/10/06)

| | | Inbox



Hello,

Did you get offers from other people already?

What is your price for the domain mentioned in the subject line?

I'm very interested in this name.

I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and databases in MS
SQL and Delphi. Buying and selling domain names is not my main business. Just
another way to invest money and make additional income.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Best regards,
Paul Hansen Ph.D.
CEO
DIT Solutions

============================================================================
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.

 

[evermore2000]

Yeah mine had the domain name in the subject title but not in the main body of the email.

Heres their second email to confirm its all a scam :

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

How about 5,000 USD? Ok?

Did you use escrow.com before? I think this is the safest place for domain/money transfer.

Do you have an appraisal certificate?

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 know and trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum
http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/69047.htm

Juck 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.

Looking forward to your reply.

 

[primacomputer]

Interesting twist on an old scam. But this one is even more blatantly fraudulent than the rest. I see grey bars in their future.

 

[mis_chiff]

Funny how the price is the same $5,000. lol


And here is the 3rd email - after I told him he can pay for the apprasial -looks like they're getting sloppy with the keyboard...lol


Subject : Re: juicey.info (sent 04/10/06)

I need an official appraisal (independent valuation) that your price is
fair. Iš hope you understand the importance of this question.

Usually, people who are selling names or web sites, provide buyers with
appraisals. This isš a common practice and I'm not going to change this rule
because it's the best way to protect an investment.

I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. So I
cannot accept appraisal from each and every site. I will only accept
appraisals from independent appraisal companies I know and trust.

Reading responses from experienced sellers I was impressed by one reply:
"Many Internet users are not smart enough and popular domain brokers are
using this fact to make money. They offer them cheap appraisal services. But
if their customers would have something in their heads they'd understand
experts could not make a professional research for $15-$20. These appraisals
are made by machines. Easy money for such appraisers as
http://www.Afternic.com and several other major brokers that offer cheap
auto-generated appraisals. In my eyes, all services under $60-$65 are not
manual and the results are generated by special scripts. I don't trust
auto-generated appraisals."

The same is true for GoDaddy and SEDO. Their services are not manual. They
are just collecting money using their well-known names.

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

Hope we can come to an agreement fast because I'll be on vacation soon.

 

[domainica]

1. Agree on a price with the would-be-buyer.
2. Tell him/her to pay for the name check out of their own pocket, which you will then reimburse in full by deducting it from the purchase price.
3. Don't expect to hear anything from them again.