Fake Bids on SEDO

[MinionDH]

Last week Sedo introduced their Buyer Certification program to filter out the real bidders from the fakes. Is it working? Well, in the past week I recieved an offer for one of my domains. I agreed to sell and waited for the buyer to send payment. He never did. I emailed Sedo right away and asked how a fake bidder could have gotten past their new system. They said the bidder was verified via SMS/text messaging. Yup, that's right TEXT MESSAGING! This is clearly a HUGE hole in Sedo's Buyer Certification program that needs to be eliminated immediately.

You can read more about the program here:
http://www.sedo.co.uk/links/showhtml.php3?Id=1313&tracked=&partnerid=&language=e

Feel free to voice your opinions here:
http://www.sedo.co.uk/about/contact.php3?tracked=&partnerid=&language=e

-Minion

 

[Damion]

Text messaging as a precautionary measure to prevent fake bids is just ridiculous.

 

[Redleg]

Text messaging??? :o
It isn't very difficult to register a cellphone with a fake name and contact info... :td:

 

[drakewla]

Hello,

Fake bids are boring, I had a similar case too - but before they implemented the buyer verification process.

I guess checking SMS check is quite limited too. Some countries require ID check for subscription whereas some don't. In addition, there are many Web2SMS platforms available on the Internet.

On the other hand, technical measures are supposed reduce the amount of fake bids, I believe they won't totally not stop them.

 

[gazzip]

"You must become a certified buyer before submitting offers"

I take it this just applies to sedo's own members and not the general public ?

I hope so !



.

 

[commandercody]

"You must become a certified buyer before submitting offers"

I take it this just applies to sedo's own members and not the general public ?

I hope so !



.

Was just thinking that today, if someone wants to purchase a domain do they have to go through the whole process of getting certified, would'nt that deter some buyers from making bids?

 

[faisj]

I asked Sedo about the text(sms) msg system.

Its there to provide people a instant way to get checked.
The verification system is there make sure that the amount of false bids reduce.

 

[gazzip]

Was just thinking that today, if someone wants to purchase a domain do they have to go through the whole process of getting certified, would'nt that deter some buyers from making bids?

I would say it would deter alot of people (end users) from making bids.


.

 

[Kate]

I would say it would deter alot of people (end users) from making bids.
.

That's what I fear :yell:

 

[faisj]

If a end user will take the trouble to make a account at sedo
and make a serious offer, I think its a small step for them to have
a small check build in.
(this would be great for the text/sms system for instant verification) Imho

 

[kev]

fake bids are really annoying - especially when you get a $5,000 offer for a reg fee name and the deal doesnt go through :td: