Domain Offer - Advice Needed

[lesurf]

Hi,

I just got some interest in one of my domains via e-mail. The only problem is I'm always paranoid that it's just a scam. The "interest to purchase" has come from an American Limited Co (LLC), however when I search for them from them on whitepages.com they are not listed, and worst of all the e-mail address is a @yahoo.co.uk one! On the flipside it hasn't just be sent to [email protected], they sent it to the address listed in the whois.

I'm beginning to think it is a scam so what is the advice of others on this to suss them out? What should my response be? The e-mail wants an asking price that I would "condiser taking", if "we can agree on" this then they can "make payment securely and quickly via Escrow.com"

Advice on this would be much appreciated as I've only ever had a few serious offers and half of them have been scams.

 

[deconstruction]

i get a little jumpy too now.

but as long as the email seems genuine, and they pay before your hand over the name then no worries.

haggle out a price, and then see if they pay.

if they ask for any kind of independant evaluation make them pay for it.

let us know how you get on.

 

[retired_member27]

I just got this very same email today, same wording and everything, just ignore it because it's a scam of some sort.

 

[lesurf]

Thanks for the advice on this - conclusion: scam

 

[deconstruction]

could you post you the wording of the email just so other people get to know the formats of scam emails?

maybe admin can set up a section for reporting domain scams?

 

[grantw]

I dont get how this can be a scam - if they are going to pay via escrow.com then you would not have to give them any bank details or anything for the payment??

grant

 

[nickbweb]

if it looks anything like this it seems to be a scam as far as others are concerned

"Hello,

Sorry to bother you, however I would like to ask if the xxxxx.com domain name is for sale.

If we can agree upon a price, I can make payment securely and quickly via Escrow.com.

Could you let us know what price you would consider?
Thank you greatly for your time. I anticipate your response.

Take care,

Sourced from: domainstate

 

[lesurf]

Yes, it's the same e-mail as the one above, consensus is that this is a scam. Not too sure how the scam works as it's escrow so I've mailed back with a price just to see what they'll say next. I'll keep you updated...

 

[grantw]

Im intrigued as to how this scam works.

Grant

 

[deconstruction]

thanks nickbweb and lesurf.

they will prob email back and ask you get the name appraised at a site of their chooisng and at your expense... useual trick...

 

[DWrixon]

thanks nickbweb and lesurf.

they will prob email back and ask you get the name appraised at a site of their chooisng and at your expense... useual trick...

That is precisely it. I usually offer them a Sedo appraisal and they go off into a rant!

 

[Brian]

Yes, the same thing happened to me last year. They wanted the domain name appraised by a "independent" company.
Stay well clear. They normally scour the domains for sale on ebay, and places like that.

 

[lesurf]

I did respond to this e-mail just to get an idea of what the scam was. I replied with a realtively reasonable asking price and I request to do everything through sedo in terms of transfering the domain.

I got no response whatsoever.

 

[aqls]

perhaps an advert for escrow.com ?

-aqls-

 

[stender]

Had the same scam happen to me! Next one I get I'm gonna string them along like they do with the 419 scammers

 

[BOBBO]

lesurf

Hi Lesurf,
I'm From The U.s. Chicago,ill.,and That Phrasing Is Used All The Time.in Addition, Escrow.com Is A Very Reputable Company.aside From Auctions,i Would Guess That More Than 50% Of My Sales Are Phrased In That Fashion.plus,in Using An Escrow Acct.,i Don't See How You Could Get 'ripped Off.'

 

[mat]

This is the best one I have had so far.....

Hello,
My name is Robert Badeaux,i have 2 puppies at hand and they need a proper good and caring home.My grand mother left them lonely after she past away last 2 weeks ago and no body is able to take good care of them and they are cute to be left out in the cold or winter that can cause any harm to them.Also due to my profession i dont have the chance to be able to look after them.The puppies are a Teacup Yorkie and English Bulldog.If you are interested in buying them kindly email me back as for me to make arrangement on how to get them to you for a cheap prices.
Thanks.
Badeaux

 

[woopwoop]

This is probably a scam to get you to get an appraisal
I've also seen weird scams where they enquire about a name but the scam is that they try to get you to register the .cn version of your name at their registry.

The traditional ebay scam still works even if you've been paid - so is still the type to be careful of.
eg. you sell something, they pay by paypal, you send the stuff out - then paypal do a chargeback and take the money back even though you have posted the stuff out (you are left with no money and no goods)

The scammer has your goods.

The chargebacks are usually done when dodgy credit cards are used or someone's paypal is hijacked.

I'm not sure how escrow is if there is any chargeback later? Do they protect you against this?