Do you respond to scammy looking domain inquiries?

[cam1taylor]

Received a inquiry that looked like a scam. I was thinking about responding because why not but now I'm hesitant.

The email basically says that some guy is representing an investor and wants to buy a name but it just reads like spam.

 

[infosec3]

No. I never respond.

 

[AEProgram]

Received a inquiry that looked like a scam. I was thinking about responding because why not but now I'm hesitant.

The email basically says that some guy is representing an investor and wants to buy a name but it just reads like spam.

takes parts of the email and google those words in quotes

 

[iko]

No. These spam mails look pretty much the same. Maybe a different name or wording.

D.e.l.e.t.e. com :D

 

[Kate]

Domain appraisal scam.

 

[SlimPickins]

well... i agree that these typical "representing an investor" templates are scams/time wasters but I have recently had 2 sales where the offer originated from a "throw away" email addy and odd or generic message that I initially considered not replying to at all... that wound up being decent sales to endusers. I guess they are also getting wiser and realize that, if possible, not revealing who they are could help secure a domain at a lower price (if they get a reply that is) than a bold "anonymous" inquiry through a "broker" or contact via their business/organization email would achieve.

I agree though that the appraisal/info gathering "inquiries" are obnoxious and for the most part obvious but I guess there are also a few "gems" that at first glance look to most likely be scammers/spammers but are just endusers wanting to inquire on the down low.....

 

[infosec3]

Something I always do is search their email address, name or any other information on Google. Doing this usually clarifies who the person is and how you should respond to the offer.

To my previous comment that I never respond I must add that, in a couple of cases, after receiving emails of a doubtful nature and using Google to search information about the sender, I have responded. In one of those cases, it was a nice sale.

I received an email from a guy in Malaysia with a $300 offer on a domain I bought on Ebay for $9. I responded with a $500 counter offer and he agreed. A few days later I received the money via Escrow.com and transferred the domain.

In short, analyze and do research using the information contained in the email you received before responding.

 

[Rado_Ch]

Received a inquiry that looked like a scam. I was thinking about responding because why not but now I'm hesitant.

The email basically says that some guy is representing an investor and wants to buy a name but it just reads like spam.

I'm interested to find out what exactly do you want to respond? Would you pretend you're falling for it? Maybe play around with the scammers? If its for the purpose of getting your laughs, then go ahead. Otherwize why bother?

 

[Traveler]

The email basically says that some guy is representing an investor and wants to buy a name but it just reads like spam.

It is an appraisal scam.

What amazes me is I got them when I first started registering domain names but have not seen one in my inbox for years. Either my e-mail filter is great or they have figured out some way to only send them to newbies.

 

[garptrader]

I received a similar email this week and the email was from a hyphenated .net domain which had been created in the prior few days. If someone is a domain broker representing someone with a five-figure budget then why are they so new to the business and why do they have such a sorry domain name? I didn't even bother responding but forwarded their message to Godaddy abuse.

 

[alien51]

The only thing to remember:

Nobody should be asking you for money. You are the SELLER. You are the one who is supposed to be asking for money. Not the other way around.

 

[SpareDomains]

I guess they are also getting wiser and realize that, if possible, not revealing who they are could help secure a domain at a lower price (if they get a reply that is) than a bold "anonymous" inquiry through a "broker" or contact via their business/organization email would achieve.

Reason every domainer should have some ballpark valuation placed on their domains so whether the email is from ceo@companyname or joeblow@freeemailaccount the price is the same as many will attempt to hide which makes sense. I wouldn't walk in to a car dealer with a Rolex on.