posted on November 5, 2008 08:18:47 AM new
I just listed a few domains on ebay (first time doing so) Sunday night. Then on Monday, I get this email that is completely unrelated to my ebay listing.
"Hello,
Your domain name has been found online.
Please let us know your price.
We make money on selling and buying names and sites. Now the domain
business is very attractive.
Looking forward to do business with you.
Regards,
Jean Clotier
CEO"
I respond back with a very simple response, "I am open to offers at this time."
I get the following message this morning.
"Can you accept 25,000 USD?
Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?
Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.
Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust.
To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies.
Please check this blog with suggestions from other sellers and buyers:
http://webtalk.007sites.com/Archive/472853.htm
If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15% discount.
After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.
What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?
Hope we can come to an agreement fast.
Looking forward to your reply."
25K???? Geez, I listed it on ebay for a buy it now of $500. lol. So, I guess before I get too excited about this (my brain says... RED FLAG!), I need some advice.
Anyone have experience selling domain names?
How about experience using Escrow.com?
And finally, having your site evauluated? I have always used GoDaddy to purchase domain names (just recently I bought my first few with the intent to resell them, all others were for myself).
posted on November 5, 2008 08:31:43 AM new
I wouldn't bite. I'd dump the email and run away from it.
Cheryl
Whitman said she and McCain share a philosophy of scaling back the role of government. a point of view partly shaped by her EBay experience. "The EBay model is very Republican in its essence -- it's about making a small number of rules and getting out of the way while not overtaxing the community," she said.
posted on November 5, 2008 08:43:56 AM new
The forum link he sent me was what gave me the biggest red flag. Then I went and did some more research and found a forum that had a "form letter" email from someone else from eliteblahblahblah.net that was worded exactly like mine. Apparently, he is a scammer looking to get people to pay for his domain name appraisal.
It early this morning when I read his 25K offer, and my coffee hadn't kicked in quite yet, but obviously, just posting this here showed my skepticism in the whole deal.
posted on November 5, 2008 09:59:22 AM new
" But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust. "
That is the key sentence! The way they make the money is to have you pay for a 'Valuation' and of course, the Company they 'choose' is owned by them or rather a shell company which is sometimes no more than a telephone set up in a vacant room.
Once you have paid for the valuation that will be the last you hear of them.
I have seen this done to people who own Timeshares and some clients of mine almost fell for it! They wanted an Appraisal done for $250.00 and the $ would go directly to them.
In Canada we have 'PhoneBusters' which is run by the Police to catch these scams and having worked with them in the past I know you have a similiar Government Department to send copies of this too but I just can't remember the name!
