WARNING: Domain Appraisal Scam

This is an old and well-known scam, but of course many will be learning about it for the first time. It would be better if you changed the title of your thread to "domain appraisal scam" as that will be accurate long after "Aaron Gottesman" has started using a different name. I wouldn't even mention the name in the title, as it might cause other members to report your post for violating the forum's rule #1 even though it's a fictitious name.

I had someone offer to sell me a domain with a name very similar to one I already owned for $100.
I went to my registar and got it for $10 and change.

domain scams have been around almost as long as domains. Clues to look for are an email that says someone is rich and wants to buy the domain, or some other note indicating the person is an investor/etc.

As for the other domain scam going on where people try to sell you a domain similar to yours: yes! I keep getting emails from the same person about 2x/day regarding domains similar to ones I don't even need. Note to a person like that trying to make a buck: the only way to make money selling domains to business that need them is to find a domain they might actually NEED.

Just received this email from the same douche:

On 22 August 2013 17:58, <hortman@asia-web-hosting.biz> wrote:
Hello!

I'm a representative of a rich investor from Dubai (UAE). He is interested in buying ******.com

Please respond and specify a desired price in the subject line.

If you have other names for sale please email me your list with prices.

Regards,

Aaron Hortman

Chief Financial Officer

Asia Web Hosting

***************************

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email communication may contain private, confidential, or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the designated and/or duly authorized recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient or have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by email and permanently delete all copies of this email including all attachments without reading them.

Just to educate unsuspecting victims, these are the following emails he'll send:

2nd email:

My client from Dubai offers 10,000 euros. Do you sell a domain (not a web site)?

He has 135,000 euros budget for several domain names.

How can we pay you (PayPal, Western Union, escrow.com etc.)? If this is your first time domain sale I may help you with the sale/transfer process.

Are you a member of domain seller communities/forums? Probably, we know each other under some nicknames?



3rd email:

Ok. I can help you with the transfer process if you need it. Before we go further my client needs only one thing:

Please send us an official certificate of market price (appraisal). He needs an appraisal service that also verifies possible trademark infringements. It won't be a problem for you since our favorite official appraiser offers this option (trademark infringement verification) as a bonus to the appraisal service. It will take only 2 minutes to order it.

Please don't worry - the appraisal value will be very good if you order it at the right place. You won't get a low figure in this case. I have connections with one appraisal company. I send them clients and they appraise names at the values I need. If you order the appraisal at any other source you risk to get a low value ($300-$400 usd). You will waste money and time in This case. My client is a rich person and I work on a commission basis. So I'm not interested in low figure appraisals too.

You can read positive responses about this company at:
Investing in domains

Just order the service at the recommended appraisal site and email them your domains with the comment that you have a buyer with $X,XXX offer and you need the appraisal near this value.

The process is very easy:

1. Go to the appraisal site and order the valuation with the TM verification. After several hours you will get the results.

2. Send these results via email and we'll proceed with the deal.

If you are new to the appraisal process I can help you with a step by step instructions.

I have a domain I've listed for sale with a price on Sedo. Then I started getting these emails. The details are different, except for the third email. There the scammer got lazy and used cut-and-paste: Word for word identical.

Sheesh.

Both email address I got the email from: space-investments.info and asia-web-hosting.biz are registered to the same person, one Roland Gordon of Switzerland. His contact email is a hotmail account.

Why would a legit domainer have to use an dot info address from which to send email?? His fondness for hyphens is strange too.

Interwebs log:

• Day 1: Recieved AOL CD
• Day 2: Received spam email
• Day 3: Posted spam email on forums