status-resolved Exposing Shill Bidders on NP

[Messiah]

A few days ago I reported some users and their few auctions, but it was rejected by Mods saying there were no connections in accounts and was asked to share the proofs to proceed with the investigation. So, here I'm with proofs..

There are four members here on NP who are currently doing shill bidding here on NP. I would like you to check for yourself their auction bids. Some of you would have already paid more than enough if you were bidding on their auctions. I have checked all the whois info for the following auctions before posting this thread...

@Mohd Aktar : His auction bids comes from @Aad Domains , @Nataraj Balli and @Brock Branne. Here are his auctions list.
Slat.info: https://www.namepros.com/threads/slat-info-1.932057/#post-5418758
NTPix.com: https://www.namepros.com/threads/nt-x-com-12-year-old-domain-1-sold.930967/ (Domain sold on March 23, 2016 to shiller Brock Branne). Of course, Domain never got transferred. Still under control of Mohd Aktar.
9to9deal.com: https://www.namepros.com/threads/9t-l-com-1-sold.930850/ (Domain sold to Nataraj Balli..Domain still under control of Mohd Aktar)
ZipFiles.org: https://www.namepros.com/threads/zipfiles-org-current-bid-45-bin-150-sold.928240/ ( Most bids again from Brock Branne, Nataraj Balli and Aad Domains. Domain sold to @NamesMax.. Probably he paid more..)
MJV.info: https://www.namepros.com/threads/sold.932614/ ( This auction had the leading bid by Brock Branne again.. When another user(@karjren ) found that this domain is also being sold on EBay and @Michelle said that Mohd Aktar is going to bind this auction on NP, the user (Brock Branne) who was already winning, placed a BIN on this domain.)..Guess what..They even gave fake feedbacks to each other here on NP...The domain is still under the control of Mohd Aktar... The domain is sold on eBay too and a fake feedbak is given there too... http://www.ebay.in/itm/281977086016

Now check all these auctions by Aad Domains.. Auctions closed long before..Domains still under the control of Aad Domains...
https://www.namepros.com/threads/40...8-and-88-7888743-com-5888964-com-more.925736/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/7888743-com-7n-com-with-888.926231/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/chinese-7n-starts-and-ends-with-83.927256/

Mohd Aktar is a genius in creating fake profiles... https://www.fiverr.com/mohdakthar

Keep checking the other two shill accounts as well.. My mind collapsed while investigating this BS...

 

[Eric Lyon]

Investigating this to see if we can find any ties to the accounts, other than bidding in the same auctions.

Thanks,

 

[Eric Lyon]

Note: Please keep in mind that the majority of our investigation will be kept private and not shared publicly.

However, I can say that so far all 4 accounts you referenced login from a different country. There are also some threads you referenced that did not have any of the members you listed as the winner. Example: https://www.namepros.com/threads/40...8-and-88-7888743-com-5888964-com-more.925736/

It's important to keep in mind that if a deal falls through in private during the transaction phase, not all members report it for fear of retaliation from the other member. In matters like that, we would have no record of it, since there was no report.

Additionally, while ICANN's policy requires a new owner to update whois, it doesn't always happen that way. Whether the buyer doesn't want their own personal information in the whois and can't afford privacy options or they are in a country with restrictions on a domain they purchased (Some ccTLD's have restrictions), it happens.

We are continuing our investigation in this matter, I just wanted to provide the above information while we research.

Thanks for your patience,

 

[NamesMax]

I did pay $45 for zipfiles.org. I did receive the name. I am confident that @Eric Lyon will research it to the best of his ability and take any protective action needed, if any. Thanks @Messiah for the heads up.

 

[Messiah]

I appreciate your investigation..

These were all auctions...Why would the deal fall through?
https://www.namepros.com/threads/40...8-and-88-7888743-com-5888964-com-more.925736/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/7888743-com-7n-com-with-888.926231/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/chinese-7n-starts-and-ends-with-83.927256/

Also,

Mohd Aktar from Hyderabad, India
Aad Domains From Hyderabad, Pakistan
Nataraj Balli From Hyderabad, India
Brock Branne From Hyderabad, India.

Prove me if I'm wrong.. It is easy to login from any other country as long as you have VPN/Thor.

 

[Eric Lyon]

I appreciate your investigation..

These were all auctions...Why would the deal fall through?
https://www.namepros.com/threads/40...8-and-88-7888743-com-5888964-com-more.925736/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/7888743-com-7n-com-with-888.926231/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/chinese-7n-starts-and-ends-with-83.927256/

Also,

Mohd Aktar from Hyderabad, India
Aad Domains From Hyderabad, Pakistan
Nataraj Balli From Hyderabad, India
Brock Branne From Hyderabad, India.

Prove me if I'm wrong.. It is easy to login from any other country as long as you have VPN/Thor.

Thanks,

Our TOS explicitly prohibits the use of proxy's or Tor. If/when we find an account using an IP cloaking service we take necessary actions. I'll look more into these accounts access points.


For internal staff use only:
https://www.namepros.com/conversations/2630322/

 

[Eric Lyon]

Update: The following accounts have been restricted from the marketplace and placed on high risk status for failure to comply with staff requests during their account investigations: Mohd Aktar, Nataraj Balli and Brock Branne. These accounts will remain restricted until such time as they are able to furnish staff with the requested information, documents, and videos we require to conclude the investigation.

Thanks again to all the members that helped bring this matter to our attention and provided us with evidence to assist in our investigation.

 

[ramkumaritrvs]

@Messiah, Great work friend.

 

[Messiah]

Thank you @Eric Lyon and all the mods for investigating this matter...
Thanks @ramkumaritrvs ...