Is this a scam - Help Please

[Abdirizaq]

Hi Everyone
I need your advice urgently please.

I am not involved in domain selling but happen to own few for planned websites.

Few days ago I have been contacted by guys who said they are brokers and a client wants to buy one of my domains.

They said the buyer first wants certificate be obtained from this website :
authorize-net.org/appraisal.htm.

So reluctantly I went ahead and paid 359 dollars for that.

Now, they said, I need to sign up for this service from the same website :
authorize-net.org/sell_order.htm

I am totally confused - suspicious but unsure that this might be standard in the world of domain selling/buying.

Have you ever heard of this website? Is it a known scam Web? What do you think of this thing?
Your advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[Kenny]

Hello Abdirizaq,

Welcome to NamePros!

I'm afraid you have fallen for the "Appraisal Scam"

Search "Appraisal Scam" here on the forum and you'll find lots of examples.

Sorry this is your first experience.

Peace,
Kenny

 

[~ The 34 Year Buzz!!]

....
Pretty soon you'll have to take a Scammer aware test just to hold a bank account or credit card

This is somewhat similar:
Do you need to be protected?

 

[Lord Antares]

Chargeback immediately if you can. It's a well known scam.

 

[Abdirizaq]

OK. Thanks for your replies guys.

Let me say, this was not a case of some random guy sending me unsolicited email and then I fell for it just like that. Not at all. I am much more tech savvy and fraud aware than that. This was (still is) a sophisticated plot (as you will see below) that have me still scratching my head about it.

I checked my bank account and no money has been taken out, and this leads me to think may be it was ID theft they are after. I will be checking my credit file to see any irregularities.

I am posting here all my correspondence with these guys so you can get an insight into how it is done. And for the hope that it may act as a reference for future potential victims (I done a lot of googling trying to research but seems no much warnings about this scam online)

 

[Arfy]

I just want to say thanks to @Abdirizaq for documenting the entire life cycle of the scam so that everybody can learn from this. I know most of us are already aware of these scams but it is insightful to see how far they actually go with it and the number of different channels they have set up to support the scam and make it seem genuine - fake reviews, Telegram, different email accounts for referral etc.

It is sad that you were scammed but what I would say is that you are lucky they did not take more money from you. I do have a very important question for you though as you may still be in danger:

When you entered your credit card or payment information, did you enter this at the website in a form of some sort?

If the answer to the above is yes, then I would block your credit card immediately to prevent your money being stolen as your credit card details may have been Phished.

Also, What information have you shared either over email or on the websites they gave you?

Good luck in the future. Next time, do ask these sorts of questions here before you take action rather than after it is too late. Good on you for sharing your experience.

CK.

 

[creataweb]

If you paid by credit card or PayPal I hope you're getting your money back after filing a complaint.

And yes it is a scam 100%

 

[MapleDots]

Hmmm, I can't believe anyone actually falls for this stuff.

I guess it's the law of averages, the scammers put out thousands of emails and if even one to two hit payday then it's worth their while.

I feel for the OP and hope he gets his money back.

 

[BaileyUK]

This is somewhat similar:
Do you need to be protected?

Love it, and I see from the date entry field it's from 2004 (not to mention the MS Access formatting) Well we are nearly there. Personally I don't worry about Big Brother surveillance and monitoring in fact I welcome it. All us oldies have concerns we'd like others to keep an eye on.

I took-up residence in a managed retirement complex at 57, best move I ever made. They don't even let me change a light bulb

 

[BaileyUK]

Takes your breath away, doesn't it.

Doesn't matter what scam you read about, you can't help but think 'Who the hell would fall for that" Yet millions of dollars everyday, tells you the OP and the like do..

Pretty soon you'll have to take a Scammer aware test just to hold a bank account or credit card

 

[~ The 34 Year Buzz!!]

...They don't even let me change a light bulb

...and if they did it would not be the type of bulb we were allowed to use ~15 years ago.

 

[lock]

The problem is some people even with warnings fall for scams.

Seems people will still think they will inherit a billion dollars from the Prince of Nigeria and government agency accept Itunes gift cards as payments. You can warn these people but it really doesn't help them they only need a glimmer of hope to be sucked in.

I know a girl that married a guy for 10k I told her he will wait till her parents die to divorce and take half the house. Guess what she married him and he won't divorce.

Another guy I know from friend of friend showed me some glamour model pics of his new girlfriend in Russia I told him she was a dude in Nigeria he sends her money and if he breaks off with her he has another replacement glamour to send money to right away
Glad your one to at least ask. Most ask their bank after they transferred all their money. You lost now learn to read feedback before you do any business here.

 

[Abdirizaq]

That was the emails.

 

[Abdirizaq]

Then I contacted the so called European English speaking agent , Robert Reese, through the telegram link that I was given.
This is how the convo went :

Abdirizaq:

Hi Robert.

My name is Abdirizaq. I was directed to contact you regarding the sale of my domain: Arthritisnaturalhacks

Robert Reese:
Hi!

Since you are new I can help you with step by step instructions how to obtain a certificate. Please go to
services.authorize-net.org/appraisal

They provide a copy of the certificate in Japanese/Chinese/Korean and this is the authorized certification agency of his bank. They also provide full money back guarantee. It guarantees us a smooth transaction and no risk of loosing money for you.

They will send you the results within 24 hours after they receive your payment. Simply resend me the certificate .

After we receive your certificate we will proceed with the sale. I may help you with the transfer process. You can count on my help.

Abdirizaq:
Hi,

With respect, how can I be sure this is not a scam?

I mean, I do not know you or the first Japanese guy. There is no solid credentials like professional e-mail or office phone number?

What if all you are after is me spending the 260 something dolllars for the so-called certificate and then I never hear back from you?

Can you give any reassurances or anything to convince me this is not a scam??

Robert Reese:
Agree.

The certification agency has many positive responses : services.authorize-net.org/testimonials

Their main advantage - fast service (each certificate is issued in less than 12 hours and full money back guarantee if your domain is not sold within 5 days). All other agencies don't offer the money back guarantee.

Since we are doing business for the first time, probably, you need references from other domain owners who sold domains though us in the past I send you their contacts:

Martin Neubauer from Switzerland. He used the certification agency and sold domains through them with our help. His email: geneva.domain.advisor.1970 at gmail.com. I helped him to certify and sell 3 domains for 15 bitcoins.

Alexander Warden from Germany: Alexander.warden at yobit-admin.net. I helped him to sell his domain for $75800 euros.

Hei Ryung Park from South Korea: blueweb.korea at gmail.com. I helped him to sell his domain for $14,200 USD.

Xu Weixing (China): domains at sudu-cn.info. I helped him to sell his domain for $504,000 YUAN.

The buyer has GoDaddy account. If your domain is registered with GoDaddy you can simply transfer it from one GoDaddy account to another. We protect both parties so you will not transfer until you get at least 50% payment.

 

[Abdirizaq]

i am sure i could write the most convincing scams but I would never want to be that moralless %&$^. I have had these sent to me for about 20 years they all stand out like spot lights these days. You need to be skeptical of anything involving money. Research everyone you deal with ask for help if needed we will help.

Will do. Thanks for advice.

 

[Abdirizaq]

This is a well thought of, well planned scam, made up deliberately of parts that each support each other to convince.

• 5 different emails at different domains made to look (possibly manned) 5 different professional people.
• Use of Telegram
• Name of main website at heart of the scam chosen carefully. Authorize.net is reputable genuine site . The crooks chose authorize-net.org and authorizeweb.net. So similar. Makes it hard for anyone researching to find bad reviews about it as Google as the genuine site is so highly ranked in Google.
• Use of third party companies for payment. They don't take payment on their site. I had to use Simplex.

 

[dande]

Like you said, you're not into domain business so no one would blame you for falling into this.

Just see what you can do to try and get your money back

 

[MapleDots]

I have an interesting comment to add here?

Why is it they call it "common sense"

Should it not really be called "UnCommon Sense" ?

It seems there is a shortage of common sense so technically it is no longer common.

 

[pier0]

First rule of the con: Find someone who wants something for nothing, then give him nothing for something.

And this is exactly what this scam does: they look for owners of domain names who think they can get something (in this case 350 ETH or $40k) for nothing (a worthless domain) and then give them nothing (the appraisal certificate) for something ($360 + personal details).

 

[DomainsMaven]

Scam.

You should never send your personal information to people who you don't know.

 

[IMEZI]

definitely scamm, issued a chargeback immediately

 

[~ The 34 Year Buzz!!]

Hi Everyone
I need your advice urgently please....

So reluctantly I went ahead.....
.....
Your advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,

Now you know to be much more reluctant in the future.
Welcome to NP.

 

[BaileyUK]

It is a shame but the World is moving into closed and protected societies (for those that can afford it) The intrusions at every level of life today almost demand it. I preferred it when we just worried about the Russians or Invaders from Mars, If you copped-it then so did everyone else...

These scams are just going to get more sophisticated and an increasing older population will need better overseeing, The younger and dare I say 'unsophisticated' don't usually have the means to be targeted by anyone as an individual hence the $300 plus amount is about the norm for anonymous scamming.

I hope everyone here on namepros reports Phishing and scamming emails - I get around 1 or 2 a day and report everyone religiously. just takes a click of a button on Microsoft

 

[Abdirizaq]

Re: Is ArthritisNaturalHacks still for sale?






I




info at vipdomains.a2hosted

Tue 08/01/2019 21:00
Inbox

To:


Me








You replied on 13/01/2019 18:58.




Ok.

If you have Telegram you may contact our English speaking representative in Europe - Robert at..... (telegram)

He may also help you to finish the sale.

My commission is only 5 %. The commission is divided between you and the buyer and paid after you get the money.

The buyer offers 350 ETH. He may also pay in Yen (Japanese currency) if you can accept it. If it's ok let's proceed.

You will be paid via Paypal, wire transfer, Western Union or Bitcoins/Ethereum.

Do you have a certificate in English and Japanese? It's required by the buyer and his escrow service. They must be sure your domain has no restrictions or problems with law and trademarks in Japan. He won't proceed without it.

The certificate must include the following to be accepted by my buyer:
- Ownership verification (the certification agency must confirm you are a legal owner).
- Trademark infringement verification (the buyer does not want to lose the domain after purchase because it has problems with trademarks).
- The domain must not be pledged or sold to third parties (verification of restrictions).
- The certificate must be up to date (issued during last 30 days)
- Copy of the certificate in Japanese (required by the buyer because he does not speak English).
- The certification agency must be authorized by my buyer and the escrow.

My buyer is a professional investor and he won't be able to send you the payment without this certificate. There is no other way for you and us to finish the sale. The payment to you will be made via escrow service to protect both parties during the transaction.
You can read about certification agency that is accepted by the escrow and supports a copy in Japanese at Google Answers: (Google questions link)
the buyer sent me this link. Domain Broker is a nick name of his former broker who worked with my buyer in the past.

The process is very easy (you can do everything online in several minutes):

1. Go to the certificate agency site accepted by my client and order the certificate. The service recommended at Google Answers is accepted by the escrow and they support Japanese and English languages.

2. After they approve your request please make the payment. The certificate will be sent to your email within several hours. Send the certificate to me and we will start the sale process the same day.

Our company also takes care about you as a seller. There is no risk for you to lose the money after ordering the certificate even if something goes wrong. The recommended certification agency won't send you the payment instructions if your domain has some legal problems.

They also provide full money back guarantee if you don't sell your domain within 15 days.

If you are new to the certification process or unsure which certification agency to use, I can help you with the step by step instructions how to order a proper certificate online.






----- Original Message -----
From: me
To: info at vipdomains.a2hosted
Sent: Tue, 8 Jan 2019 20:48:31 +0000
Subject: Re: Is arthritisnaturalhacks still for sale?

Hi,

No but I can make one. Or else I would like it by PayPal.

How do I know you are genuine ?

Sincerely,

From: info at vipdomains.a2hosted.<info at vipdomains.a2hosted>
Sent: 08 January 2019 13:37
To: me
Subject: Is arthritisnaturalhacks still for sale?

Hello!

Our client from Higashihiroshima is interested in acquiring arthritisnaturalhacks for a new web project.

Do you have an Ethereum wallet?

Sincerely,

Kazuko Kurosawa

Investor Relation Department

A2Hosted Inc.

Tokyo

Japan

 

[lock]

That was the emails.

And straight to the bin.

You want to know a lot about your broker.
A real broker will have a decent domain.
A real broker will have a site with whois you can look up.
A real broker will give real first and last name.
A real broker is found at namepros with a simple search.
A real broker if not found we will find them for you.

Better still try work out the client a great way to start is find out if they are already competing for same keywords.