Am I Being Scammed or Did I Hit the Lotto

by BigFrank Banned
14 replies
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Greetings. I have been around a long time, but I have never seen this one before. It kinda stinks to high heaven, because when I was originally approached I replied with, "Make a legitimate offer." Who wouldn't start out at $300? lol

Here is the mail that I received.

My client offers a sum in $65,000 - $100,000 range. The exact figure will depend on the appraisal results (see below).

Before we go further we need only one thing from you:

My client is a professional investor and he buys certified domains only.

If your domain has been certified, please email me the certificate and we will proceed with the sale. If you don’t have a certificate it’s not a problem. I may send you a link where you can obtain it. Please don’t worry. It takes 1-2 minutes to order it. The results will be sent to you within 24 hours. Then you send me the certificate via email and we’ll proceed with the sale

The certification includes 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 we will increase the price accordingly.

2. Trademark infringement verification. It proves your domain has no trademark problems.

3. Verification of the owner. It proves you are a legitimate owner and your domain has no any obligations and restrictions. I’m sure that you are a legitimate owner so it will be only a formality.

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 and need a valuation near this value. After several hours you will get the results. If the price in your certificate comes higher we will increase our offer accordingly.

2. After you get the certificate, please send the results via email and we’ll proceed with the deal.

If you are new to the certification process, I can help you with the step by step instructions.

-------------------------------------------------------

Anyone ever seen this, before???

Cheers. - Frank

P.S. The domain name isn't worth more than $100 in my book.
  • Profile picture of the author kursat
    Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post


    1. Go to the certificate agency site and order a certificate. Just submit your domains and let them know you have a buyer with ,XXX offer and need a valuation near this value. After several hours you will get the results. If the price in your certificate comes higher we will increase our offer accordingly.

    Could it be an affiliate trying to sell this "certificate order" - that you go from his link and order it.

    It sounds like it is not free, or it might be his own company, that was my first thoughts.
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Originally Posted by kursat View Post

      Could it be an affiliate trying to sell this "certificate order" - that you go from his link and order it.

      It sounds like it is not free, or it might be his own company, that was my first thoughts.
      Yeah. I'm sure it's a good way to sell 'certificates.' lol

      TY. - Frank

      P.S. Went and looked. $150 for a certificate. No thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author kursat
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        Yeah. I'm sure it's a good way to sell 'certificates.' lol

        TY. - Frank

        P.S. Went and looked. $150 for a certificate. No thanks.
        Yes I Google this and it looked like a scam - a new one, I guess. They have huge lists so if they have a 1% success rate, they will be making tons of cash. If he does send you the $150 for the certificate - let us know...
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        • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
          Originally Posted by kursat View Post

          Yes I Google this and it looked like a scam - a new one, I guess. They have huge lists so if they have a 1% success rate, they will be making tons of cash. If he does send you the $150 for the certificate - let us know...
          I wouldn't even trust that the check would be good, assuming one would be sent. Sometimes it takes quite a while for banks to verify scam checks. In the meantime, your bank will probably charge you for their trouble.

          Run away from these people and ignore them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by kursat View Post

      Could it be an affiliate trying to sell this "certificate order" - that you go from his link and order it.

      It sounds like it is not free, or it might be his own company, that was my first thoughts.
      My first thought as well.

      When I was a teenager, I bought 1,000 catalogs of baby toys, and a mailing list. It was a deal where you mailed the catalogs, and as the orders came in, you kept half the money.

      Of course, now I know they were just in the business of selling catalogs....but I was a dumb kid. This reminds me of that.

      By the way, if any of you get an e-mail or letter saying you are going to be in WHO'S WHO.....just know that this is their sole marketing plan. They are in the business of selling copies of their book, to everyone who bought a listing.
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      One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

      What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
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      • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        My first thought as well.

        When I was a teenager, I bought 1,000 catalogs of baby toys, and a mailing list. It was a deal where you mailed the catalogs, and as the orders came in, you kept half the money.

        Of course, now I know they were just in the business of selling catalogs....but I was a dumb kid. This reminds me of that.

        By the way, if any of you get an e-mail or letter saying you are going to be in WHO'S WHO.....just know that this is their sole marketing plan. They are in the business of selling copies of their book, to everyone who bought a listing.
        I saw that you must have bought a listing in one of these books recently as your in my copy of WHAT'S THAT
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  • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
    Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

    Greetings. I have been around a long time, but I have never seen this one before. It kinda stinks to high heaven, because when I was originally approached I replied with, "Make a legitimate offer." Who wouldn't start out at $300? lol

    Here is the mail that I received.

    My client offers a sum in $65,000 - $100,000 range. The exact figure will depend on the appraisal results (see below).

    Before we go further we need only one thing from you:

    My client is a professional investor and he buys certified domains only.

    If your domain has been certified, please email me the certificate and we will proceed with the sale. If you don't have a certificate it's not a problem. I may send you a link where you can obtain it. Please don't worry. It takes 1-2 minutes to order it. The results will be sent to you within 24 hours. Then you send me the certificate via email and we'll proceed with the sale

    The certification includes 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 we will increase the price accordingly.

    2. Trademark infringement verification. It proves your domain has no trademark problems.

    3. Verification of the owner. It proves you are a legitimate owner and your domain has no any obligations and restrictions. I'm sure that you are a legitimate owner so it will be only a formality.

    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 ,XXX offer and need a valuation near this value. After several hours you will get the results. If the price in your certificate comes higher we will increase our offer accordingly.

    2. After you get the certificate, please send the results via email and we'll proceed with the deal.

    If you are new to the certification process, I can help you with the step by step instructions.

    -------------------------------------------------------

    Anyone ever seen this, before???

    Cheers. - Frank

    P.S. The domain name isn't worth more than $100 in my book.
    Er, scam. Unsolicited emails always are. And he sends you an affiliate link to get your domains certified!, certified for what?
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    Feel The Power Of The Mark Side

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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
      Learn something new everyday.

      Thanks Frank.
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  • Profile picture of the author DJL
    If you buy a certificate, I believe the only thing they will certify is that you are an easy mark.
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    None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
    --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Elective Affinities (1809)

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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    It's the decades old "domain appraisal scam." They're trying to put a new face on it by calling it certification instead of appraisal. They are behind the so called certification sites and once you are duped into paying that fee, you never hear from them again.
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Figured it was a scam, but it was a new one on me and I've been around a while. :-)

      I wrote and told him to send me the $150 for the certificate and to deduct it from my $65k. I informed him that I'm a sport and that he should keep $50 for himself for his trouble. lol

      Thanks, kids!

      Cheers. - Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        Figured it was a scam, but it was a new one on me and I've been around a while. :-)

        I wrote and told him to send me the $150 for the certificate and to deduct it from my $65k. I informed him that I'm a sport and that he should keep $50 for himself for his trouble. lol

        Thanks, kids!

        Cheers. - Frank
        lol ... that's kind of you Frank. You won't be sorry. You're going to be wealthy after selling a few domains at that price.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ken Leatherman
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        Figured it was a scam, but it was a new one on me and I've been around a while. :-)

        I wrote and told him to send me the $150 for the certificate and to deduct it from my $65k. I informed him that I'm a sport and that he should keep $50 for himself for his trouble. lol

        Thanks, kids!

        Cheers. - Frank
        Big Frank,

        I like the way you handled the return e-mail to them. I enjoy messing with the guys who telemarket this stuff and the e-mails. Love the quick sarcastic note that hopefully gives them a little bit of their own medicine.



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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    If the deal falls through after you buy a certificate you could always use it to wipe your ass, because that's all it's worth on planet earth.
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