selling a domain... how not to get ripped?

spudley · 2004-12-07, 03:00 PM

I had an offer on a domain of mine that I am seriously considering, I was just wondering what the norm is for selling it... should I just collect the $ via paypal or what can I do so I don't get caught with no $ and no name.

The offer was $1500 US so I don't want to take a really big chance on loosing out on collecting.

Thanks for any advice!

stuveltje · 2004-12-07, 03:59 PM

i would say lett them first pay, you move the money to your bankaccound and then you move the domain to new owner, i did that the same way, but i also told the guy who bought the domain, i am gonna first move the money from my paypal accound to my backaccound, reason why? they can pull money back from paypal within 5 days, i didnt wanna take the risk i move an domain and get the money pulled back, its just a matter of trust i think, the guy who bought my stuff was easy, but i was honest about how i thought.Its always a matter of trust i dont think you cant protect yourself to the limit.just my 2 cents

takemytaco · 2004-12-07, 04:11 PM

you can use a third party

https://www.escrow.com

This is their domain name FAQ

https://www.escrow.com/solutions/domain_name/index.asp

Both sides are protected.

Bill · 2004-12-07, 04:21 PM

You should be cautious. These $1500 offers are bulk offers by potential scammers.

There's been no proof that I've heard of that they are false offers, but they've been made in a suspect manner, by bulk mailing, and should be considered illegitimate until proven otherwise.

I mention this because you mention the $1500 figure and that figure is well known as part of a bulk mailing.

spudley · 2004-12-07, 04:32 PM

Bill, any other details on this? After going through all my email, I found a separate offer from the same person for a different domain (same $1500 offer). Perhaps I'm just getting targetted now. I have yet to provide a reply to the offer.

Any other details on this possible scam would be appreciated!

DangerDave · 2004-12-07, 05:14 PM

What Bill said...

I got 25+ of them

-------------------------------------
Hello,

Are you willing to sell xxxxxxxxxxx.com to me.
I am starting a new business and thought this would be a good name.
I'm making an offer of 1500 USD. please let me know.
Thanks for your time.

Best Regards,

Fanhouse Solutions, Inc
-------------------------------------

DD

spudley · 2004-12-07, 05:47 PM

That's exactly the message I received... I've got 50+ domains, but only rx'd 2 of these emails so I considered them some-what legit.

The last offer I received on a domain was in the same dollar range, but was on a domain I didn't want to part with for that amount of coin.

Any idea as to the purpose behind this spam/scam?

GeorgeTH · 2004-12-07, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill
You should be cautious. These $1500 offers are bulk offers by potential scammers.

There's been no proof that I've heard of that they are false offers, but they've been made in a suspect manner, by bulk mailing, and should be considered illegitimate until proven otherwise.

I mention this because you mention the $1500 figure and that figure is well known as part of a bulk mailing.

Since I received the same offer yesterday ($1,500) chances are high that it is a scam, specially since a look in the extented header revealed that the email was not sent from the address it stated in it's header!

edit: The wording of the one I received was exactly like Dangerdave's...

Mine went into the 'SPAM' folder

Bill · 2004-12-07, 06:03 PM

Why not cautiously reply and see what answer you get?

I have not heard of anyone successfully selling a domain to these $1500 guys.

It's been suggested that it's some sort of identity info scam, but I haven't heard any proof.

My guess is that it's a way to attract webmasters into the domain speculation auction sites- the more bidders, the higher the prices. That when you reply they string you along for a while, then tell you they can't buy it, but you might be able to sell it at (insert name.com). But that's just a guess.

Bulk mailings are cheap, as are email lists of domain owners.

RawAlex · 2004-12-07, 10:35 PM

I got more than 50 of them before I started to filter them out (they came overnight). I own WAY too many domains, and this sort of scam always stands out.

Someone offering me $1500 for a domain that gets all of 3 hits a day, has 3 dashes in the name, and is a typo...

you can figure it out.

What the actual scam is, I am not sure... but don't be surprised to start getting spams for hosting, stats, or some other bullshit fast enough.

Unsolicited offers for domains are about 99% crap.

Alex

xxxtreme · 2004-12-08, 04:25 AM

On Dec 06 I received several emails with exactly the same text as mentioned before for some of my domains as well.
They were all sent to the email address I use for my whois records, and not to the one I have on the sites...
Definitely sounds like a scam to me.

kalle7 · 2004-12-08, 03:31 PM

Got an offer for one of my domains today with the offer of $1500 lol I have no plans of selling, but is was good to read this thread so I can be on alert about it in the future

Thanks!

2004-12-07, 03:00 PM	#1
spudley Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: barrie, ontario canada Posts: 5	selling a domain... how not to get ripped? I had an offer on a domain of mine that I am seriously considering, I was just wondering what the norm is for selling it... should I just collect the $ via paypal or what can I do so I don't get caught with no $ and no name. The offer was $1500 US so I don't want to take a really big chance on loosing out on collecting. Thanks for any advice!

2004-12-07, 03:59 PM	#2
stuveltje Live and learn. And take very careful notes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sunny Holland Posts: 6,157	i would say lett them first pay, you move the money to your bankaccound and then you move the domain to new owner, i did that the same way, but i also told the guy who bought the domain, i am gonna first move the money from my paypal accound to my backaccound, reason why? they can pull money back from paypal within 5 days, i didnt wanna take the risk i move an domain and get the money pulled back, its just a matter of trust i think, the guy who bought my stuff was easy, but i was honest about how i thought.Its always a matter of trust i dont think you cant protect yourself to the limit.just my 2 cents __________________ Canadian Sexlinks - submit Erotica search -submit

2004-12-07, 04:11 PM	#3
takemytaco Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 9	you can use a third party https://www.escrow.com This is their domain name FAQ https://www.escrow.com/solutions/domain_name/index.asp Both sides are protected. __________________ <p><a href="http://www.makemoneywithus.com">http://www.makemoneywithus.com</a> affiliate directory<br></p>

2004-12-07, 05:14 PM	#6
DangerDave Bonged Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: BrisVegas, AUSTRALIA Posts: 4,882	What Bill said... I got 25+ of them ------------------------------------- Hello, Are you willing to sell xxxxxxxxxxx.com to me. I am starting a new business and thought this would be a good name. I'm making an offer of 1500 USD. please let me know. Thanks for your time. Best Regards, Fanhouse Solutions, Inc ------------------------------------- DD __________________ Old Dollars >>>> Now with over 90 Hosted Free Sites <<<< DangerDave.com.au - Adult Links to Free Porn

2004-12-07, 04:21 PM	#4
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	You should be cautious. These $1500 offers are bulk offers by potential scammers. There's been no proof that I've heard of that they are false offers, but they've been made in a suspect manner, by bulk mailing, and should be considered illegitimate until proven otherwise. I mention this because you mention the $1500 figure and that figure is well known as part of a bulk mailing.

2004-12-07, 04:32 PM	#5
spudley Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: barrie, ontario canada Posts: 5	Bill, any other details on this? After going through all my email, I found a separate offer from the same person for a different domain (same $1500 offer). Perhaps I'm just getting targetted now. I have yet to provide a reply to the offer. Any other details on this possible scam would be appreciated!

2004-12-07, 05:47 PM	#7
spudley Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: barrie, ontario canada Posts: 5	That's exactly the message I received... I've got 50+ domains, but only rx'd 2 of these emails so I considered them some-what legit. The last offer I received on a domain was in the same dollar range, but was on a domain I didn't want to part with for that amount of coin. Any idea as to the purpose behind this spam/scam?

2004-12-07, 06:03 PM	#9
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	Why not cautiously reply and see what answer you get? I have not heard of anyone successfully selling a domain to these $1500 guys. It's been suggested that it's some sort of identity info scam, but I haven't heard any proof. My guess is that it's a way to attract webmasters into the domain speculation auction sites- the more bidders, the higher the prices. That when you reply they string you along for a while, then tell you they can't buy it, but you might be able to sell it at (insert name.com). But that's just a guess. Bulk mailings are cheap, as are email lists of domain owners.

2004-12-07, 10:35 PM	#10
RawAlex Took the hint. Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,597	I got more than 50 of them before I started to filter them out (they came overnight). I own WAY too many domains, and this sort of scam always stands out. Someone offering me $1500 for a domain that gets all of 3 hits a day, has 3 dashes in the name, and is a typo... you can figure it out. What the actual scam is, I am not sure... but don't be surprised to start getting spams for hosting, stats, or some other bullshit fast enough. Unsolicited offers for domains are about 99% crap. Alex

2004-12-08, 04:25 AM	#11
xxxtreme A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 51	On Dec 06 I received several emails with exactly the same text as mentioned before for some of my domains as well. They were all sent to the email address I use for my whois records, and not to the one I have on the sites... Definitely sounds like a scam to me.

2004-12-08, 03:31 PM	#12
kalle7 Hey, can you take the wheel for a second, I have to scratch my self in two places at once Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Here and there... Posts: 182	Got an offer for one of my domains today with the offer of $1500 lol I have no plans of selling, but is was good to read this thread so I can be on alert about it in the future Thanks!