an odd request

[keys]

I recently received offer for a domain name from a father, because his son had registered online accounts using a non-existent email address. Only way to access said accounts was to create the actual email address. I believe this to be a true explanation.

Anyway, for a nominal payment I gave him access to email. It is not a domain I would ever use, quite an apt name if you are suspicious.

 

[Murray]

What could you sign up for that's important that wouldn't need email confirmation?

 

[dee]

I had a similar request last year but from someone who claimed to previously own the domain.

 

[Adam H]

I'd be concerned of GDPR / Privacy issues that could come of it, unless you can categorically proove that the emails you've just given access to are 100% indended to that person, or indeed worse and could be abused, spoofed or used in unethical practice while the domain is under your name. I personally wouldnt have done it while i still owned that domain, if they wanted it they could purchase the domain so it waives any problems from my side.

 

[sjr06]

It's probably something as simple as an epic games account for Fortnite. I've seen this many times.

Personally I think you've you've done a nice thing ;-)

 

[Siusaidh]

I hate it when you lose access to things because of a defunct email. That happened to me long summers ago. I had a Freeserve (remember them?) unlimited account. Well it was claimed to be unlimited, but after I spent an entire summer downloading music from Napster they contacted me and unceremoniously gave me the boot 'because it's not fair on our other customers'. In those days 3000 music tracks was big bandwidth - these days it would be nothing. The trouble was that I had some other accounts that could only be accessed by my Freeserve email address.

Like others, I think it was really kind to help this guy out, but I hadn't thought through the possible implications of spoofing etc which Adam raises, so in retrospect I'd probably have tried to sell the domain to avoid any responsibility. That said, it sounds like the guy was bona fide and I like it when people are not just business, business, business, and are prepared to help someone out as a fellow human being.

There are a lot of good people here on this forum.

 

[keys]

Misplaced trust can be costly in several ways. It is the key element of scams, fraud and abusive relationships. However, with no trust we descend into paranoia.

In this case, potential loss or upset from foolish action was recovered. Only a small payment, but it was a formal documented business transaction.

If you hire a car and your driving results in a penalty or prosecution, it is your responsibility not the hirer's.

I think the lesson here is that children and parents should more often consider consequences of online activity.

Here is an example,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51328762