Beware of appraisal scams.

[TightAggressive]

Glad I caught this, my feeling was correct about this guy from bonbon.net named Mark. He was interested in a .info name for $1100, but demanded an appraisal and has slowly worked the emails towards using alldomains. I told him its fine if he paid for it and we deducted it from the sale price and I never heard back

Happy New Year everybody

[type in traffic]

Is there a short maggot / scam black-list somewhere?

[type in traffic]

Is there a short maggot / scam black-list somewhere?

[safesys]

Thats what the warning forum is here for

[type in traffic]

sure, I am thinking something quick and dirty
bonbon.net Paid service scam
maggots.xxx Slime-ball renewal scam

Here you must sign up to read, a posted list is available to all ... they feed mostly on the little guys that have no idea we are here

This can be googled et cetera and works well for phone scams. I am sure there are 200 maggots that deserve a slot

[safesys]

Here you must sign up to read

People can read the warning forum without being a member.

[goldlasso]

Domainers Beware!

This schmuck just tried scaming me. If i didn't read these forums I probably would have fell for it. Please read below.

From: B E S Engineering [mailto:kayat@bonbon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 2:46 PM
To: elie@ashery.com
Subject: superimpose.info (sent 01/04/06)


Hello,

I'm interested in your domain name. Hope you have not sold it yet.

Did you get offers from other people?

I need to know your desired price. Please don't ask to make an offer. Just email the desired price. I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and databases in Oracle for a local company. Buying and selling domain names is not my main business. Just another way to invest money and make additional income. I wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Best regards,
Andrew Kayat Ph.D.
President
Back End Software Engineering

============================================================================
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.
===========================================================================


5,000 USD. Ok.

Can you provide me with independent valuation (appraisal)? I need such valuation for name priced in your range. I consider your name as an investment. In other words I'm going to sell your name later and make a profit. If I overpay I won't be able to make a profit in the future. It's very important for you and me to know the current market value of your domain.

Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging a reputable appraisal company. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals.
I will only accept appraisals from independent appraisal companies I know and trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum

http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/51037.htm

Juck check this posting.

If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly.

After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.

How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

[alteredEgo]

Here I am thinking I'm the worlds savviest, seen-it-all Internet dude and I got duped too.

In my case, he used the "Frank Moss PHD" alias.

BTW, hello, very good forum. This is my first post here but probably not my last...

[shriekman]

Thanks for the post about this -- this guy contacted me using "'Paul Deegan'" <pdeegan@bonbon.net>.

Anywhere there is money to be made, there are people willing to separate you from it.

Greg

[dcgiants]

I got one today from "Paul Deegan" too. Nice.

[zotter]

This person apparently uses similar wording in his pitch.

It appears that he is currently using the addresses dcheney@phreaker.net, or kayser@bonbon.net, or kramer@bonbon.net, or schaefer@bonbon.net, or trevorb@toughguy.net

...and his IP address is (213.140.225.228:3118)



Opened at apparent address of: dcheney@phreaker.net, or kayser@bonbon.net, or kramer@bonbon.net, or schaefer@bonbon.net, or trevorb@toughguy.net
Opened 31-Jan-06 at 05:00:43am (UTC -5:00) - 10hours36mins39secs after sending
Location Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation (81% likelihood)
Opened on (213.140.225.228:3118)
Language of recipient's PC: ru (Russian)
Browser used by recipient: Moz/4.0 (MSIE 6.0; WinNT 5.1)

Summary - as at 31-Jan-06 at 05:01:06am (UTC -5:00) - 10hours37mins2secs after sending
Total Opened 1 time by 1 reader


See this thread for text of the pitch to me:

http://domainstate.com/showthread.php3?threadid=57718

[phronesis]

I got an email from bonbon.net - same basic format as those above with slight variances. So I thought I'd play with the guy a bit. He wanted to "buy" my domain name because he thought it was very valuable. I told him he could have it for $20 LOL! No response.... So a few days later (today) I wrote back to him and told him I made a mistake and that I was actually asking $2,000, not $20. I got this email back in SECONDS.


***************************************
2,000 USD. Ok.

Do you offer a web site or domain name only? I'm mostly interested in names.

Do you have an appraisal certificate?

Domain name is an investment for me. In other words I'm going to sell your name later and make a profit. If I overpay I won't be able to make a profit in the future. It's very important for you and me to know the current market value of your domain.

Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging a reputable appraisal company. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. I will only accept appraisals from independent sources I trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum

http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/59047.htm

Juck check this posting.

If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly.

After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.

How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best regards,
Thomas Lassen Ph.D.
President
BN Engineering
**************************

So fast, actually, you'd be a fool to think it wasn't already written!

So of course I berated him and showed him a couple references to his scam. How can people who do business like that live with themselves?? It's incredible to me...

[projectingeneer]

Remembered hearing about something similar to this on Domain State a while back...and sure enough! I think this guy may have had some success as he appears to be approaching more people recently.



Quoting Riley <ariley@bonbon.net>:

> 5,000 USD. Ok.
>
> Do you offer a web site or domain name only? I'm mostly interested in
> names.
>
> Do you have an appraisal certificate?
>
> Domain name is an investment for me. In other words I'm going to sell your
> name later and make a profit. If I overpay I won't be able to make a profit
> in the future. It's very important for you and me to know the current
> market
> value of your domain.
>
> Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging a reputable appraisal
> company. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals.
> I will only accept appraisals from independent sources I trust.
>
> To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal
> companies
> in a forum
>
> http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/61048.htm
>
> Juck check this posting.
>
> If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly.
> I also hope you can give me 10% - 15%discount of the appraised value
> because
> I need a room to make profit.
>
> After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.
>
> How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or
> wire?
>
> Hope we can come to an agreement fast.
>
> Looking forward to your reply.

> >
> >
> > On Thu, 23 Feb 2006, Riley wrote:
> >
> > > I checked your site.
> > >
> > > Besieds of the name mentioned in the subject line I'm interested in
> > >
> > > RadioControlledEquipment.com
> > > RCHeavyEquipment.com
> > > RCMining.com
> > > RemoteControlledEquipment.com
> > > RemoteHeavyEquipment.com
> > > RemoteMining.com
> > > RHeavyEquipment.com
> > > RMining.com
> > >
> > >
> > > Please email your quotes for each name.
> > >
> > > I need to know the lowest price you can accept.
> > >
> > > What is your price range: $5,000 or $10,000 or even higher?
> > >
> > > Please send it to me via email as soon as possible.


> > > > On Wed, 22 Feb 2006, B O N Engineering wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello,
> > > > >
> > > > > Hope you have not sold your domain name :-) I'm very interested in
> it.
> > > What is your price: 5,000 or 10,000 USD or even higher?
> > > > >
> > > > > Please send your price.
> > > > >
> > > > > Did you get offers from other people already?
> > > > >
> > > > > I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and
> databases
> > > in MS SQL and Delphi. Buying and selling domain names is not my main
> > > business. Just another way to invest money and make additional income.
> > > > >
> > > > > Looking forward to do business with you.
> > > > >
> > > > > Best regards,
> > > > > Andrew Riley Ph.D.
> > > > > President
> > > > > B O N Engineering
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> ============================================================================
> > > > > NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
> > > > > information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient.
> Any
> > > > > viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
> > > > > unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received
> this
> > > > > message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the
> > > message
> > > > > and deleting it from your computer.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> ===========================================================================
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>

[projectingeneer]

I suggest everyones keeps this guy going for as long as possible so eventually he gives up as his earnings per hour for the effort he has to put in will not be worth it.

On Sat, 25 Feb 2006, Riley wrote:

I need a proof (independent valuation) that your price is fair. I hope you
understand the importance of this question.

Domain sellers always provide buyers with certificates. This is a common
practice.

I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. So I
cannot accept appraisal from each and every site. I will only accept
appraisals from independent appraisal companies I know and trust.

Reading responses from experienced sellers I was impressed by one reply:
"Many Internet users are not smart enough and popular domain brokers are
using this fact to make money. They offer them cheap appraisal services. But
if their customers would have something in their heads they'd understand
experts could not make a professional research for $15-$20. These appraisals
are made by machines. Easy money for such appraisers as
http://www.Afternic.com and several other major brokers that offer cheap
auto-generated appraisals. In my eyes, all services under $60-$65 are not
manual and the results are generated by special scripts. I don't trust auto-generated appraisals."

The same is true for GoDaddy and SEDO. Their services are not manual. They
are just collecting money using their well-known names.

Thank you for understanding. I'm looking forward to do business with you.

[dsbn]

The first email I recieved.
==================

Hello,

I found your name for sale surfing sites of the domain brokers. What is your price?

I'm interested in this name and my intentions are serious.

Did you get offers from other people already?

I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and databases in MS SQL and Delphi. Buying and selling domain names is not my main business. Just another way to invest money and make additional income.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Best regards,
Thomas JohansenPh.D.
CEO



The 2nd email I received.
===================

Opera Engineering

need to know the lowest price you can accept for the package.

What is your price range: $5,000 or $10,000 or even higher?

Please send it to me via email as soon as possible.


The 3rd email I recieved.
======================

3,600 USD for all. Ok.

Do you offer a web site or domain name only? I'm mostly interested in names.

Do you have an appraisal certificate? Do you have an appraisal certificate?

Domain name is an investment for me. In other words I'm going to sell your name later and make a profit. If I overpay I won't be able to make a profit in the future. It's very important for you and me to know the current market value of your domain.

Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging a reputable appraisal company. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. I will only accept appraisals from independent sources I trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum

http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/62049.htm

Juck check this posting.


If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. I also hope you can give me 10% - 15%discount of the appraised value because I need a room to make profit.

After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.

How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.



My reply to the A**Hole
===================

Hello Mr. PHD

The world is a small place.

Please visit this link

http://www.domainstate.com/showthrea...threadid=55830

NO APPRAISALS.!!!! WANT TO BUY MY DOMAINS??? BUY IT AT MY PRICE !!!

I dun need a hoax appraisal scam.

THANK YOU

BN