Homeland Security is interested in my domain??

[Kamikaze]

Hey guys...
I've got an offer of $2.4K on one of my domains (I would PM the name if wanted).
Along with some comments like:
"we are offering you a high amount and expect no counter offer and hesitation to transfer over this domain".
I've googled the phone number and it's of Homeland Security USA.
I've googled the name of the sender, and it is a person in Homeland Security USA.
I've googled the address they've sent me, and (you guessed) - it's Homeland Security USA.
I need to mention though that the I.P trace comes from Ontario, Canada.
Do you think it's legit?
I would really like to hear your opinions!

 

[alien51]

I've googled the address they've sent me, and (you guessed) - it's Homeland Security USA.

So that "address" is a physical address?
What email address did he use? (could be spoofed, i know, but anyone using Yahoo or Gmail or Hotmail, is suspect)

 

[cdboard]

is it the federal government of the U.S.A.? or some biz calling itself

"homeland security usa"?

was the email address from dhs.gov account?

 

[Kamikaze]

It's not a business name, it's what I've found by googling this email.
As for the address, it's a physical address in the states, yeah.
The mail came from [email protected] (XXXXXX made by me).

 

[.NJ]

Sounds a little weird. I really cant see Homeland Security needed anyones domain because they have the ability to use the .gov extension. Nothing is impossible, but seems strange.

PM me the name if you want, and I will take a look.

 

[Kamikaze]

Sent!

 

[enlytend]

Weird. An official govt office would send you something - well, "official", not vaguely threatening like that is. The Ontario IP doesn't add up either. Lots of reasons an IP might not trace to exactly where the sender is located, but a government email would use government owned US-based servers.

Have you looked at the full headers of the message? You usually tell from that if the address is spoofed. Does the same address come up when you hit "reply?"

Instead of just googling the phone #, why not call, ask for the person and get more information?

 

[Richard Vega]

I'm just curious, does the name fit the use for a gov agency?

or

Could it just simply be a domain that an employee there may want to use for personal/business reasons and emailed you from work?

 

[Kamikaze]

Hitting "reply" shows the same [email protected] (XXXXX by me).
Under "properties", of that email, the "Sender" and "X-Sender" are the same as above.
As for calling them... lets say I will -
Then what, asking if he's jerking me off?
I mean... I would prefer ending it via emails
enlytend & DomainMotion, I've sent you the dn...

 

[Richard Vega]

I would definitely give them/him a call and make sure it is legit. Seems to me that department would be the one to handle cyber information, so makes sense that they would be the ones to contact you.

Wish you best of luck!!

 

[Kamikaze]

Well guys, I've called that number and got to an answering machine.
The message is indeed by "Homeland Security of the state of NY".
I guess I'll try calling this number again later on and see.

---------- Post added at 04:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

Due to the nature of this issue,
And the possibility that a person is violating a MAJOR Federal Law by posing as Homeland Security -
I've tipped the FBI asking them to figure out if this story is legit.
I'll update as soon as I'll get a response.

 

[freedom30]

...let us know if it's legit and if they are seeking more domain names...

Twenty-five hundred bucks sounds pretty good to me right about now!...

 

[Kamikaze]

I sure will!
If it's legit, I have other domain names in that niche.
IMHO, if it is legit - we all might profit out of it...
p.s - it's twenty-four hundred, but what the heck :D

 

[Ms Domainer]

*

When I get an offer from someone I don't know or who seems dicey, I simply place the name on Sedo, wait for it to be verified, and then email back that if they place a bid of [whatever I'm willing to accept], then I will

1. Accept the offer outright

OR​

2. Send the domain to auction​

For example, I sometimes give options:

"I will accept a bid of $3,000 outright or if you bid $2,400, I will send the domain to a 7-day auction."

I'm very careful not to go back on my word (even if I have second thoughts) because my rep is more important than trying to suss out a few extra bucks.

Hope it works out for you!

*

 

[alien51]

2. Send the domain to auction

For example, I sometimes give options:

"I will accept a bid of $3,000 outright or if you bid $2,400, I will send the domain to a 7-day auction."

The buyer did say it was a take-it-or-leave-it offer. So an auction is a no-can-do.

I think if he's legit, he'll agree to do escrow. Even the US Government agreed to do a spy-swap with Russia on a third-party country of Austria. So escrow should do just fine.

 

[Ms Domainer]

The buyer did say it was a take-it-or-leave-it offer. So an auction is a no-can-do.

I think if he's legit, he'll agree to do escrow. Even the US Government agreed to do a spy-swap with Russia on a third-party country of Austria. So escrow should do just fine.

*

I was just offering a general option for anyone in a similar situation.



It looks as though OP has some qualms about this potential buyer; I have discovered that if your gut is sending alarm bells, then it's a good idea to proceed with caution.

Besides, the seller is the one to decide if he wants to sell outright.

If it's so-so name, then selling outright makes sense, but if it's a great name, then maybe $2,400 is too low. I don't know the domain, and, for the purposes of this discussion, I don't need to.

I like Sedo because it doesn't transfer the domain to the buyer until payment has cleared.

Even with the commission, I have made good money through them.

*

 

[enlytend]

Well guys, I've called that number and got to an answering machine.
The message is indeed by "Homeland Security of the state of NY".
I guess I'll try calling this number again later on and see.

Saturday - probably out of the office. Government workers don't keep long hours.

If this is legit, very weird and a little disturbing that the govt would spend time buying up domain names. Seriously - won't hate groups just use brandables? Or hyphens? What a pointless waste of time and money!

And you're in Israel?????!!!!! A little out of their jurisdiction?

 

[iowadawg]

Right, our government sends out emails to buy domains!
That is the funniest I have heard yet!

This is not legit....

 

[enlytend]

Right, our government sends out emails to buy domains!
That is the funniest I have heard yet!

If it IS legit, the level of idiocy scares me more than any terrorist threat.

Here's a theory: Individual who works for that Homeland Security office doing a little extracurricular domaining and using his government credentials as part of his strategy? If he lives in upstate NY the Canadian company that owns the IP could be his home ISP.

When you call ask to speak to his superior too .

Can't wait to see how this turns out.

 

[alien51]

Right, our government sends out emails to buy domains!
That is the funniest I have heard yet!

And the US Secret Service told prostitutes in Colombia, that they work for the US Secret Service.

And yes, government agents are cheapos. This prostitute complained she was paid $28 dollars:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...harges-scandal-brought-shame-White-House.html