Yet another scam

[DCBluesman]

Watch out for a domain appraisal scam that is going the rounds. Here's how it works - guy gets your details from your auction or site listing, emails you and says he's interested with a good price. You reply, he says he needs a domain appraisal. Points you in the way of a fake bulletin board that recommends somewhere called domain explorer. You buy appraisal from domain explorer, he gets the money, never buys your sites.

Here is the kind of email to watch out for:

Can you accept 4,000 for all three?

Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies.

Please check this blog with suggestions from other sellers and buyers:
(address of fake blog)

If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15% discount.

After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow, International wire transfer, PayPal or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.

Fortunately, my skeptical nature kept me from being taken.

 

[texasfootball21]

Thanks for the heads up. I wonder if anyone else on here has seen this scam?

 

[Daniel]

Lou, That would be a hard one to spot. I would not have to worry about it myself as I have not interest in selling my Domain. I also woudl not use the buyers source for an appraisal. that is just a no brainier to me. the buyer points me in the direction of an appraisal service that he thinks is good. well that probably means it is good for the buyer. I want an appraisal that is good for the seller. My mind works like that even if I am not suspicious of a scam.
Anyway I am glad you caught it cause it is a sneaky one. I could really see a lot of people getting taken by it.

 

[clthayer]

Those are the emails that you need to reply "You send money, I send pens" to.