advice What's the scam?

[energyofaurora]

I have a domain with landing page, asking price $25,000.

I received a random email from supposed domain experts in the San Francisco area; correspondence below however I suspect it's a scam but I can't see how the scam would operate. Reasons I'm suspicious:
- their website; it's been the same since 2015 (waybackmachine)
- their website links to a non existent Facebook page or Twitter/X account
- their website is only a single page - the home page
- they didn't address the concerns above when mentioned in my email
- their website only has a phone number, no address details
- can't find them in yellow pages
- can't see any references or mentions of them anywhere
- search results only for the "business" appearing in google; no other links or mentions of them
- without any real search engine results I don't see how they could have any clients.
- no search results for the buyer that would show any association with domain trading, ever
- the initial email feels mass produced, like they hadn't seen the ask price

So if it is a scam, what's the angle?


----
Hi [seller],

We would be willing to proceed at $10k and I will cover the escrow fees. Please confirm receipt of this offer and let me know if you are willing to proceed!

Thanks,



On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 2:17 PM [buyer] wrote:

Hi [seller],

Thank you for getting back to me and for providing me with a price. I will review with my client. If we are able to reach an agreement, are you willing to use escrow dot com?

Thanks,


ᐧ
On Mon, Dec 23, 2024 at 5:22 PM [seller] wrote:

Hi,

Honestly, it's difficult to take you seriously.

As you know, I have read your email - your email tracking would have let
you know (mailfoogae dot appspot....)

Maybe update your website, it's been the same since 2015, with links to
a non existent Facebook page or Twitter/X account, no real search
results for your "business"; maybe then it would appear more genuine and
legitimate. As it is, I don't see how you could have any clients.

US$23000


On 2024-12-24 01:18, [buyer] wrote:
> Hi [seller],
>
> Did you receive my previous email? What is the best price you can
> offer on [domainname]?
>
> Thanks,
>
> ᐧ
>
> On Mon, Dec 16, 2024 at 9:55 AM [buyer]
> wrote:
>
>> Hi [seller],
>>
>> I wanted to reach out to see if there was any room in the list price
>> of [domainname]. If I deal directly with you and we use escrow dot com
>> [1] (me paying the escrow fees) it should cut down on your fees. I
>> am hoping you can offer me a better price.
>>
>> Please let me know!
>>
>> Thanks,
>> [buyer]
>>

>>
>> ᐧ
>
> --
>
> Thanks,
>
>

 

[Kyle Tully]

The scam is they are paying you $10k for a name priced at $25k.

Don't fall for it.

 

[King]

They offered to use escrow, why would it be a scam?

 

[bmugford]

I have a domain with landing page, asking price $25,000.

I received a random email from supposed domain experts in the San Francisco area; correspondence below however I suspect it's a scam but I can't see how the scam would operate. Reasons I'm suspicious:
- their website; it's been the same since 2015 (waybackmachine)
- their website links to a non existent Facebook page or Twitter/X account
- their website is only a single page - the home page
- they didn't address the concerns above when mentioned in my email
- their website only has a phone number, no address details
- can't find them in yellow pages
- can't see any references or mentions of them anywhere
- search results only for the "business" appearing in google; no other links or mentions of them
- without any real search engine results I don't see how they could have any clients.
- no search results for the buyer that would show any association with domain trading, ever
- the initial email feels mass produced, like they hadn't seen the ask price

So if it is a scam, what's the angle?


----
Hi [seller],

We would be willing to proceed at $10k and I will cover the escrow fees. Please confirm receipt of this offer and let me know if you are willing to proceed!

Thanks,



On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 2:17 PM [buyer] wrote:

Seems like a straightforward $10K offer to a $25K asking price.

About the only angle I could see is using some fake escrow option, not a legit one like Escrow.com or similar.

Brad

 

[URL Stream]

To add on to the previous posts: Regarding all your "proofs", It could be a savvy buyer concealing their identity to avoid paying the full asking price of $25,000—or even more—once you know their full purchasing power.

 

[energyofaurora]

To add on to the previous posts: Regarding all your "proofs", It could be a savvy buyer concealing their identity to avoid paying the full asking price of $25,000—or even more—once you know their full purchasing power.

Anything is possible I guess. I did have a link to Sedo and domainagents so any direct traffic would have seen potential buyers see those domain agencies first and would have thought the actual potential buyer would use those or contact me directly. Where the heck this unknown agency comes into it is weird.
Probably overthinking it and should just reply to their email.

​

 

[winst]

While working with a medium-sized software company undergoing a spin-off and rebranding, I used a dormant domain name during our interactions and negotiations to help them acquire domain names. This approach is just a part of smart practices, giving us plenty of options and flexibility. You never know if it is or is not a scam from the initial email; just be careful.

 

[biggie]

Probably overthinking it and should just reply to their email.

Hi

if you're interested in the offer or want to counter offer, then give a reply.
if not, then ignore.

if they want to use escrow.com, and pay the fee... then that's a good sign to me/

imo...

 

[DomainRecap]

Just watch out if the "buyer" suddenly wants you to sign up for a valuation service or wants to use a sketchy payment or escrow system, etc.

Anytime a potential buyer asks you to do something out of the ordinary (especially when it involves money) run away, fast.

 

[Samer]

Just watch out if the "buyer" suddenly wants you to sign up for a valuation service or wants to use a sketchy payment or escrow system, etc.

Anytime a potential buyer asks you to do something out of the ordinary (especially when it involves money) run away, fast.

If the buyer asks you to pay for “valuation” i would tell him to deduct it from their $10K offer as it’s likely a scam.

 

[william]

The scam is yet to come. As others noted above, you will likely be asked for something before the transaction, such as paying for some estimate. And then they will disappear into the night.

 

[scithe]

Are you willing to sell it for 10k?

Any updates?

 

[energyofaurora]

A few more emails, they've offered $15k, I'm thinking $18k would sway me. I'd probably request the escrow concierge service just for a little more peace of mind.

I've held the domain for a few years now, had an offer almost 12 months ago to the day of $10k, coincidence(?)!

I'm curious, if they are genuine, if they are recommending escrow dot com if they are acting as a broker so as to use the non transparent option so seller and end user buyer can't see the 'mark up' between the offer and what the buyer has on the table.

 

[energyofaurora]

Haven't heard any more since my counter offer and concierge service request.

I dunno what their "game plan" is or was.

 

[Adrigan]

Scammers don't usually try to negotiate as that could deter the seller from dealing with them if they try it on too much. But who knows, perhaps a more sophisticated scammer would use that in the repertoire to throw people off of their scent.
As others have said, if anything (yes anything no matter how small it seems) strays from the normal process and what you expect the buyer to do or say for a domain name sale, run away and run away quickly.
Introducing something new nearer the time when money has to be sent is a classic point in a scam.
I would also report them too if they turn out not to be kosher.

I had a scammer approach me a while back in which they wanted me to sign a contract before the sale. So watch out for that as the scammer would get your signature if you provided it and then they could use it on other documents pretending to be you, to carry out other scams with your name as the perpetrator.

The red flags you mention are worth noting but it could mean the company is lazy/messy/disorganised or they are not using the name they show you as their real business name. If they are going to use escrow.com, then you shouldn't have any issues about getting paid and you will know when the money has been sent, or hasn't been sent.

 

[energyofaurora]

New to escrow.com, so have a few questions.

- If a buyer submits an offer, should the email address sent To via [email protected] be sent to and matched to the domain registrant email address ( I used a different email address on the landing page to that of my domain registrant email address)?
- If I receive an offer via [email protected], is there an easy way to tell if it's with the escrow.com concierge service?
- When I receive an offer, is there a time limit to accept the offer?
- If I have an escrow.com account but haven't set a disbursement method by the time a buyer pays and payment clears, will escrow.com simply hold the funds until such time I have a disbursement method set?

- Australian specific question: best financial organisation (lowest fees, best exchange rate) for a US$ wire transfer?

 

[alcy]

just setup a buynow page on sedo or at your registrar for the price u both agree on and tell him it's the only way u will sell.

then forget the rest.

if he uses it then sale done and he pays and u getmoney and its sedo problem to check if paymrnt good

 

[Adrigan]

New to escrow.com, so have a few questions.

- If a buyer submits an offer, should the email address sent To via [email protected] be sent to and matched to the domain registrant email address ( I used a different email address on the landing page to that of my domain registrant email address)?
- If I receive an offer via [email protected], is there an easy way to tell if it's with the escrow.com concierge service?
- When I receive an offer, is there a time limit to accept the offer?
- If I have an escrow.com account but haven't set a disbursement method by the time a buyer pays and payment clears, will escrow.com simply hold the funds until such time I have a disbursement method set?

- Australian specific question: best financial organisation (lowest fees, best exchange rate) for a US$ wire transfer?

You should be asking the questions about escrow.com of escrow.com and not of anyone else.
Call them or email them from their website email address and not from any other source. There are scams around where emails and websites are made to look like escrow.com but are all phoney and fraudulent.

You could look at using xe.com to transfer the US$ funds to you. I use them all the time for non domain related transactions. There's no commission for you to pay. xe just gives you a lower rate than if you paid commission elsewhere.

I'm not thinking you aren't but be very careful & precise about setting up all the various bank account and other relevant information (with xe or any other operation), as the tiniest error can mean you don't get your money and then you and xe could end up in an ordeal to find where the money is. I used xe.com for a domain sale once and that is what happened. It took about 6 days to track it down.

Pause once you'e entered the data and check it. Then check it again, slowly.

 

[energyofaurora]

Buyer apparently funded the transaction.

Next step as requested by escrow dot com - sent my registrar info, escrow then sent me an email:
"We are currently waiting for the Buyer to reply with the initial email sent for their registrar information. A reminder has been sent."

Escrow have not put the domain in their holding account.
escrow.com/domains/domain-concierge
says "When the domain(s) are received in our holding account, Escrow.com will transfer the domain(s) to the buyer's registrar and disburse funds to the seller."

Wondering if the buyer will provide their registrar details. I guess I'll give it a few days then ask escrow to cancel.

 

[Adrigan]

Tick tock, tick tock...