Domain Name Appraisal Scam

[svplaya14]

FROM: Opera Engineering
SUBJECT: heator.com (sent 03-23-06)
RETURN-PATH: <[email protected]>





Hello,

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

I'm very interested in this name.

Did you get offers from other people already?

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 Anestad Ph.D.
CEO
Opera Engineering

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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.

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Was actually pretty excited at first, the guy seemed serious. But like any domain seller I decided to look him up, which led me to many forums and sites that show he is a scam. Lammmmeeee.

 

[W-M]

Yes I have had a few emails like this one in the past DON'T do business with him.

 

[RobinB123]

Yes, was just about to post this too...almost got scammed, though I got suspicious when he seemed adamant on buying my domain, but insisted on getting it appraised. Mine was from someone called "Robert Johansen" though ([email protected]). He also points to a 'forum' where he's 'asked' about appraisal services:
http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/62049.htm

 

[SimpleDomaining]

here what he want:
all he will ask is to appraise it at certain place, which he will tell you . so you will pay some money for your domain appraising to his company and after it he will desapear and will start to send this letter to others.

 

[Foxon]

hi got one 2day 2 i was quite excited the money he offered was good but a friend told me to look out as it was a scam it was off the same company but the guy was [email protected] so i am annoyed
but owell

 

[Gex]

Thanks for the info. Not that I'd ever have ended up paying a cent for an appraisal if it got to that stage, but it certainly saves me the time of having to answer such an email!

 

[fandie]

Hi

I got a email from this prat also

i have emailed him the link to have a look so if he is reading this


You are a total Wan*** and i await your email back c*nt

And have a nice day also

 

[Foxon]

glad you didnt fall for it like i nearly did

 

[tm]

i got that.. offered me about $100 grand for mobmonkey.com

 

[OxDomains]

got this today...

Date: 4/6/2006 18:02:49 +0400
From: "Opera Engineering" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (sent 04-05-06) All headers
950 USD + fees. Ok.

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 trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies
in a forum

http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/68035.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 because
I need a room to make profit.

After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.

How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or
wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.
----- Original Message -----
From: "OxDomains Admin - NY USA" <[email protected]>
To: "Opera Engineering" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: $$$$$$$$$$$ (sent 04-05-06)


> We will accept $950 USD and Buyer pays escrow fees.
>
> >
> > 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,
> > Thomas Blindheim Ph.D.
> > CEO
> > Opera 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.
> >
> >
>
===========================================================================
> >
> >
>
> http://www.oxdomains.com

 

[Pulsar132]

I got a email from them 2day.

Disponent IT Solutions [[email protected]]

from them and it was Paul.

 

[PuckishOpus]

Yup, I got one yesterday from Operaen and it was Dr. Blindheim wanting to buy killersquirrels.us. I kept sending him skeptical communications and thought if he'd take the time to strike up a conversation then maybe I was just being too suspicious. Well nuts, I went ahead and searched alldomains and ended up here. Hey, good news is I just joined this forum and I really like it!

Oh, here's my last response to Dr. Blindheim:
"Hey, this fantastic, I can't wait to get your offer after the appraisal. Check out some of my other names for SALE."
Most sincerely,
Jeff

Of course SALE links to one of the NamePros threads on the scam. I knew this would be fun. :hehe:

 

[nirav.dave]

Here is what i got... yesterday. 3 emails.

Was lucky as i had already read about it a few days back in a forum. I tried talking to him and exchanged a few emails. I am posting it here so all the people who are not aware can go through this and save themself from this scam.

Sender : "Disponent IT Solutions" <[email protected]>
Name : Paul Hansen Ph.D.
CEO
Disponent IT Solutions


****FIRST EMAIL !!!!****

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
Disponent IT Solutions


****SECOND EMAIL !!!!****

How about 7,000 USD? Ok?

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 trust.

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 because I need a room to make profit.

After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.

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

How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.


Looking forward to your reply.


****THIRD EMAIL !!!!****

You speak about automated appraisal service. They are inaccurate. But there are several professional manual services.

I thought about Afternic, but found their service inaccurate and automated.

Moreover, here is the link about complaints to Afternic at
http://www.igoldrush.com/links3.htm
"Capsule Review: After lots of complaints, Afternic is no longer a recommended service. We will re-review the service in the near future."

So Afternic.com is NOT acceptable.

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 $50-$55 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.

I heard many appraisal companies often overpriced domains. So I cannot
accept appraisal from each and every site.

To avoid mistakes I asked about reputable appraisers in a forum. Several
experts recommended me AllDomains' appraisal service -
http://www.allfordomains.com/appraise.asp as a fast, accurate and
non-expensive manual service.

I also trust the manual appraisal service from http://www.DomainMart.com but
it's very expensive - $200/hour. This service was also recommended by many
people but I thought it was too expensive. But if you can afford
DomainMart.com's fee it's ok with me.

All the best NP Members.

 

[SimpleDomaining]

he he he ))) i told ya

 

[Jules1]

he he he ))) i told ya

Yep got a message from the scammer too. He's using some bulk emailing software and sending from dialup in Russia apparently.

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

 

[bluffho]

:hi: Amazing - the guy is actually pretty persistent. He offered me $4500 for my domain. I'm tickling my curiosity and seeing how far he will take this (and how much time he'll actually invest in the contact). After receiving all the same above mentioned emails and replies, and after sending him links to forums on his own scam, he said to go ahead and use the appraisal service of my choice. Now mind you all, I'm really only getting the appraisal done now to see how far this guy will take it. I'm at the point where I want to know the end of the novel, the result of the game:

----------------------------
From: "Hansen"
To: "BluffHo"
Subject: Re: CASAMAN.COM
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2006 12:37:31 +0400

Ok. Use AccurateDomains.com then.

----- Original Message -----
From: BluffHo
To: Hansen
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 3:22 AM
Subject: Re: CASAMAN.COM


I concur, we have heard only poor reviews of Afternic. Our services of choice would still be www.accuratedomains.com. If there are no objections, we can order for completion within 36 hours. I believe that the 24-hour services skip on too much and colleagues have found them to not be as reliable. We will not be using allfordomains.com and hope you do not either:

http://www.DNF/f202/allfordomains-com-whos-joker-scammer-thread-135667.html

Please advise.​

I'll keep you all posted!

 

[Randall]

The punk tried the same stunt with me. I led him on for a few days trying to ID the guy but had no luck....


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
DST Solutions Norway

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

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

 

[sb225]

thanks for posting as i dont know domian appraisals and domain sellers are also scams
from last few days i am hearing about godaddy for raising money for domain resellers

 

[webset32]

the same for me... he offered $5000 for my domain... and i recognise the appraisal scam... :hehe:

 

[SeamusBurkill]

Its a good idea i guess...

Not for anyone else tho