Is this a scam or does this sound legit?

16 replies
my domain is stylishchef.com which is a 3 year old expired domain I recently purchased. I haven't touched it since purchasing it. I was contacted via email today about someone purchasing this domain off me. I haven't gotten it appraised but I'd be stunned (beyond stunned) if it was worth 1/8 of $15,000. I'm not sure if I should trust and communicate further or be leery of this being a scam

"Our commission is 3 %. It's paid after you receive the funds.

The buyer offers $15,000.

How do you want to get paid: Check, Wire, Western Union ? If my buyer does not support your preferred method he can send you the funds via an escrow service that supports it.

Do you have a certificate? The appraisal certificate gives buyer confidence to proceed.

My buyer also needs it for tax and accounting purposes.

If you don't have it's not a problem. You can order it online.

Please note he cannot accept it from any agency. He needs a manual service. It also must be a third party independent agency (not your broker our auction site) he knows and trusts.

The certification must include the following:

1. Independent valuation of the market price. It will show your domain name is not overpriced. On the other hand if the valuation comes higher, he will increase the price accordingly. In the domain name industry, there are many appraisal tools that people use to estimate the value of a domain name. My client does not want to risk and doesn't accept services that use scripts. If you are unsure about some service feel free to ask me.

2. Trademark infringement verification. It proves your domain has no trademark problems. He would like this verification to be included in the appraisal report. It's not a problem because some companies include the TM verification for free.

I’m also interested in a good estimate of the market price because you will pays me % on each sale.

You can read about certification agencies at http://answersgoogle.org/answers/thr...d/96283720.htm (“Domain Broker” is my nickname).

The process is very easy:

1. Go to the certificate agency site and order a certificate. Just submit your domains and let them know you have a buyer with $XX,XXX offer. It will help you to get a better valuation.

If your domain is worth at least $1000, they will send you the payment instructions. If it's not possible, they won't send you the instructions. This way you will not lose anything. It's very convenient and gives you the full protection. Other services charge you upfront even if your domain is not worth spending the appraisal fee, so I don't recommend them.

2. Send the certificate to me and we will start the sale process. As soon as he receives your certificate he will buy your domain via an escrow service of his choice.

If the appraisal comes higher he will make a better offer. His final offer will only depend on the appraisal results.

If you are new to the certification process, I can help you with the step by step instructions."
#legit #scam #sound
  • Profile picture of the author treka
    I honestly cant say one way or the other but it got my alarm bells ringing a little. I can see why you're unsure. I'd probably say scam
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    • Profile picture of the author mjoet3324
      thanks. I really don't care if I lose this domain. other than paying $11 for it from GoDaddy, I'm not invested in it. If I get scammed, it will probably only be in appraisal and certificate fees. Heck I'd be willing to sell it to them for $30 but if they're willing to pay more (and actually be legit lol), who am I to complain? But I will proceed with caution and not spend more on certificates and appraisals than I feel comfortable
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      • Profile picture of the author quadagon
        Originally Posted by mjoet3324 View Post

        thanks. I really don't care if I lose this domain. other than paying $11 for it from GoDaddy, I'm not invested in it. If I get scammed, it will probably only be in appraisal and certificate fees. Heck I'd be willing to sell it to them for $30 but if they're willing to pay more (and actually be legit lol), who am I to complain? But I will proceed with caution and not spend more on certificates and appraisals than I feel comfortable
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  • Profile picture of the author quadagon
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    I've got 99 problems but a niche ain't one
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    • Profile picture of the author mjoet3324
      darn that is verbatim what was written to me in the email chain I got lol. Crisis averted. I knew it was too good to be true.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ariel Mayorga
    If it sounds to good to be true then.... It sounds fishy to me
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  • Profile picture of the author CyndiHester
    If it feels like a Duck..........it's a Duck........

    I would PASS on this.............
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  • Profile picture of the author Adrianne_
    Really? This offer is equivalent to those emails about someone inheriting millions of dollars and need your help moving the money out of their country. You can go to http://www.siteprice.org/ and put in your domain to see what it's worth. Then tell the guy "thanks but no thanks" if the price is way off. Or don't even bother replying at all.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paulk59
    Looks suspicious, any doubts and i would walk away.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexis Webup
    It sounds not good for me
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  • Profile picture of the author vedremo
    Banned
    This is a scam. Personal experience.

    Once "appraised" I guarantee you'll never hear from him or her again.

    Make sure to report it.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    I can't say if this is legit or not.

    Me personally, I would not sell it.

    The one place where you could sell and domain name and be 100% sure it is legit is Sedo.com.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    It IS a scam - no doubt about it.

    I really don't care if I lose this domain. other than paying $11 for it from GoDaddy, I'm not invested in it. If I get scammed, it will probably only be in appraisal and certificate fees. Heck I'd be willing to sell it to them for $30 but if they're willing to pay more (and actually be legit lol), who am I to complain? But I will proceed with caution and not spend more on certificates and appraisals than I feel comfortable
    ...and you are falling for it. That's why these domain scams go on year after year...people know it's too good to be true...but "just in case"...they go along and end up losing money to the scammers.

    How did they find you? The domain name changed recently to your name - which is clearly listed as the new owner. They scrape the changes - and send out their "offers"....

    ....and some people think "wow, I bought a great name - look what it's worth!" They know better - but greed takes over and they get scammed.

    Don't be a sucker. That's what they are counting on.

    P.S. - I like the domain name - you could do a lot with that one.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Here's a spoiler alert for you...

    The "agent" has a source for appraisals that the buyers trusts, or maybe a list.

    You hire someone on that list to do an appraisal for a few hundred dollars.

    You send the certification.

    The buyer has changed his mind in the meantime and bought another domain. Thanks anyway.

    After a little digging, you find out that both the "agent" and the appraisal sources are part of the same business entity. The offer is sent out in bulk to would-be domainers, and works very well in selling appraisals. None of the domains ever actually sells for the offer price, if at all.

    The tl;dr version is, this offer smells worse than a tidal flat at low tide in July during a red tide event (Google it).
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    If you have to ask if it's a scam, then it is. As a previous post said if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck... I will add that you can be sure to end up in hot water.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    Dead giveaway...

    Originally Posted by mjoet3324 View Post

    Do you have a certificate? The appraisal certificate gives buyer confidence to proceed.

    My buyer also needs it for tax and accounting purposes.
    There is absolutely NO tax or accounting purpose for an appraisal certificate.

    There is also no such thing as a legitimate appraisal service.

    _____________________________
    Read this closely...
    A domain name has a very specific value, and it is NOT set by an appraisal service.

    It is, quite simply, whatever price a buyer is willing to pay. Not a penny more, or less.

    How much do you think google.com, yahoo.com, etc. would have appraised for BEFORE the companies that now own those domains established the value of those brands. How much of their value is based on the value of the actual domain name? (hint - $0) ...vs what they have subsequently developed on those domains and the promotion that they have done for their brand/products/services?
    _____________________________

    This company is obviously just interested in selling you their appraisal service.

    Further, it will probably come in lower than the $15K originally mentioned so that after stiffing you for the appraisal fee, they will have the opportunity of offering you a much reduced price for that domain even though they probably have no real intent to purchase at any price.
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