Email received, spam ?

[Argos]

Hello the Community,

Hope this is the right post for this. I have received the following anonymous message regarding a domain name I own :

"hi,
can you tell me if you are using XXXXXXXX.tv"

The email address of the sender surprisingly does correspond to my domain name but ending with 'ltd' (XXXXXXXXltd)
The concerned name is not developed. It is an attractive dictionary word, there is no TM infrigement with it. It is listed (not parked) for sale at a premium d.n site.

I am more surprised by the specific question than by the fact it is an anonymous email. What would you do/answer ?

Thank you for your advices.

 

[primacomputer]

This could mean anything. It could be some scammer trying to con you into buying variations on your name. It could be a limited company of that name which had to settle on a second rate domain name because you have the single word one.

That type of email is typical of the first contact made by a potential buyer.

What I would do now is a bit of investigation. First find out if its a potential buyer or scammer. If it's a potential buyer then I would do a lot of investigation. Gather every bit of information you can about the company. Take the mail to pieces and track down who sent it.

Once you know exactly who you are dealing with you can begin to work out what the name is worth to the buyer, how they will negotiate, and how you should respond.

It is really unwise to respond before you have done all this.

 

[Argos]

Thank you PrimaComputer for your time and detailed reaction.
I have tried to track down who sent it and found on search engines that there is a series of local companies/sites related to the 'nameLtd' mainly based in the UK. For not quoting here for the reason you may understand, I wish to mention that the name it is directly related to advertisement. So the sender could be one of these ad entities, but this is only a clue.
I understand from the question that the sender is implicitely willing to get the answer : "no I am not using the name". If I do so in any way I formulate my reply, can the sender get back to me saying that I am a cybersquatter and that I have to drop the name because his company needs it to develop its site ?

I know that the simplest reply would be to inform the sender that in absence of effective development the name is currently for sale on the premium d.n broker site, and, if interested, he may place an offer there. I find strange that a potential buyer takes this approach as a first contact instead of asking whether the name is for sale and how much I want !

Many thanks.

 

[middlebe]

Salut, Argos !

C'est ou exactement, Divonne ?

amicalement

newbe

 

[Badger]

why dont you get it appraised by a company which your proposed buyer might be able to recommend to you?? :lol:

Just ignore it. If genuine and interested, as arnie says, they'll be back....!

 

[Argos]

Salut NEWBE, Divonne est sur la frontière suisse, beside Geneva, ...un autre monde ! Et c'est où "The continent" ? Lol

Thank you COLLIERI. Yes I'll ignore. If the distinguished sender is really interested in the name he will get back to me with the appropriate message ! If it is a new formula to catch noobs like me with "pro.apparaisals" I hope I am not the only one on their list !

Thank you for your time and reaction.