Is GoDaddy Scamming People for profit?

[LaunchUp.com]

This is going to be a stretch, but not impossible.

As you know anyone can contact you through Godaddy to inquire about your domain name.

This is legal.

1. When this began I complained that Godaddy need to make it clear to the domain owner that the inquiry isn't related to Godaddy brokers or the company...and they heeded that concern. Because many scammers could have used their brand backing to trick domain owners especially newer ones.

New concern:

1. I received another email today about someone being interested in a specific domain i own. The buyer left their email and name. After i contacted them, The email bounced.. Doesn't exist or no mx record found for email.
2. I know people can make mistakes. But i doubt this was a mistake.
3. No one is going to waste their time to intentionally inquire with wrong email to where they will never hear back from you. There is zero gain to that and time wasted for them.

Then i realized, the domain in question was about 3 weeks past it's expiration date. because of the inquiry, i renewed the name. The basic renewal was still available and the name wasn't bad or anything. But to save money i had to choose names with the most potential.

The stretch:

1. I lowkey think Godaddy could send some fake emails like this to encourage renewal of domains.'
The idea is people are interested in your domain so it has value and may be worth renewing.
And this inquiry could be a potential sale.. i mean any price would be worth it compared to making it expire for nothing.

Is it impossible for a register to employ these tactics.

Solution:::::::::::::::::::I think people who respond to these Godaddy inquiries... and get the mail returned with error, need to report it here to see if their is a trend. Because scammers don't gain anything from giving you a fake email. They can't get a reply to obtain any info so no gain. It's even more questionable if people get inquiries from a similar fake email.

 

[tonyk2000]

scammers don't gain anything from giving you a fake email.

The email domain you were responding to was regged earlier today or yesterday, wasn't it? They always use fresh domains. So, email setup might not fully propage at the time of your response. Why did you respond in the first place? It is a known appraisal scam. There is at least dozen of related threads here @ np. GoDaddy is not scamming anobody, they must forward any and all such communications.

 

[Steven McEvoy]

I mean this is a good idea honestly...

 

[tonyk2000]

I mean this is a good idea honestly...

You mean because only GoDaddy-regged domains are targeted?

 

[draco]

Did you check the headers on the email? Does the domain name of the person that emailed you exist?

 

[Steven McEvoy]

Did you check the headers on the email? Does the domain name of the person that emailed you exist?

Ive gotten these emails too come straight from godaddy.

 

[Steven McEvoy]

You mean because only GoDaddy-regged domains are targeted?

Because if Godaddy started to send these out, it would make you want to renew the domains because someone actually targeted your domain.

 

[tonyk2000]

Because if Godaddy started to send these out, it would make you want to renew the domains because someone actually targeted your domain.

Why would GD spend time and efforts to such a thing? They'd actually make more $$$ by sending as much domains as possible to their expired auction.

 

[LaunchUp.com]

Why would GD spend time and efforts to such a thing? They'd actually make more $$$ by sending as much domains as possible to their expired auction.

They don't need to spend much time.. This is an easy templated automated process. Just as easy as reminders to renew your name.

 

[Steven McEvoy]

Why would GD spend time and efforts to such a thing? They'd actually make more $$$ by sending as much domains as possible to their expired auction.

Obviously I don't think they are doing this because of how big they are. I just said that is a great idea. Like small hosting / domain resellers should do this.

 

[LaunchUp.com]

The email domain you were responding to was regged earlier today or yesterday, wasn't it? They always use fresh domains. So, email setup might not fully propage at the time of your response. Why did you respond in the first place? It is a known appraisal scam. There is at least dozen of related threads here @ np. GoDaddy is not scamming anobody, they must forward any and all such communications.

There was nothing to imply it was a scam... It's a simple inquiry. Now the response would tell me if it's a scam or legit.

 

[LaunchUp.com]

Obviously I don't think they are doing this because of how big they are. I just said that is a great idea. Like small hosting / domain resellers should do this.

I guess it's a clever idea but it's not good business integrity though. But a clever idea to possibly encourage your reseller site customers to stay around another year and maybe even encourage a regular joe to start investing in domain names..seeing that someone actually wants to buy their name.

I mean, even going as far as asking them to show you other names they have for sale? I guess it could be successful but it would be unjust gain. lol

But that's the business world tbh

I don't put it out of the realm of possibility...because this is a simply automated process for a registrar to do and pull off. It takes no efforts. And the result is you renewing your name because you feel wow it has value and is worth renewing. Don't underestimate what people would do for the love of money.

 

[LaunchUp.com]

I mean that Oprah Winfrey show called Sweetie Pies... The star took out a 400K life insurance policy on his nephew and then paid someone to kill him and then tried to claim the money.

And we think a registrar wouldn't make a simple email template to encourage renewals. It's not a great risk at all for them.

I'm not saying Godaddy is doing this..But it's not impossible.

However, more evidence is needed and alot of people experincing this.
So we can eliminate it's not an appraisal scam and it's not random people making mistake with their email address. But rather something more..

For now, It's just a concern. A curiosity. I question things.

99% of my names are with Godaddy, so I am not asking these questions out of any bad intention either.

 

[Way3]

For now, It's just a concern. A curiosity. I question things.

Question everything. That's my motto. Not everything is intentional but if it gets your spidey sense tingling, look down the rabbit hole (just try not to fall in)

 

[tonyk2000]

Question everything.

I'd possibly expand this to: everything you hear is false.
Ok, maybe not everything. But still a lot...