Beware of appraisal scams.

[Sprocketwheel]

Just digged out the remains.


----- Original Message ----
From: TGN Group <tgngroup@phreaker.net>
To:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 11:31:55 AM
Subject: xxxxx.us


Hello,

We are interested in xxxxx.us

Your name was auctioned for sale. Please let us know your desirable price to sell.

Our company is working on network protection and intrusin detection projects.

So Internet names is just a part of our investment strategy.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,
Robert Daley
Vice President
TGN Group
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was in January.

Can’t even remember what I answered but I got a identical worded mail as altlas posted above.
Never had intentions to further followed up on it. The price offered was just so ridiculous high, it turned me off to get prayed on my greed.

So, any offer anyone ever arrives of TGN Group it’s an apprisal scam.

[atlas]

The price offered was just so ridiculous high, it turned me off to get prayed on my greed.

Yes, the domain that got this offer ($12,000) is actually one I'm planning on dropping - I doubt it's even worth reg fee.

[namethink]

Originally posted by safesys
no kidding - they've had enough practice over the years to fine tune it

Yep. Practice makes perfect.

[devolution]

But one thing they haven't learned...


...is to spell properly!

[Sprocketwheel]

The swamp population is resurfacing

I wrote about this scam in June of 2005. Many people fell victim to the scam, but I hadn’t heard many complaints about it in a while. But over the past two weeks the old article has received six new comments from people who have received the appraisal scam email.
The latest batch of scam emails are signed “Andreas Winski” or “Ronald Winski” and use various company names, including TNG Technologies and PHR Systems.

DN Apprisal Scam Resurface

[kevinodie]

Just wanted to post a warning here for newer people that the "Appraisal Scam" is still in business.

From: Harrison [management@phreaker.net]

Hello,

We've have visited several online auctions. We are very interested in your domain name xxxxxxx.

Just email me your price and we will consider it.

Of course, domain reselling is not a main direction of our business (we develop software). But domain aftermarket is hot now, so we are always interested in domain names.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,
Anthony Harrison
COO
PDS Consulting
============================================================================
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.
==========================================================

My reply:

The domain xxxxx is currently listed for sale at SEDO

Per their user agreement linked here

Please kindly read the topic: Solicitation of an offsite sale
-------------
Sedo works hard to provide the Internet’s #1 domain marketplace. Soliciting domain sales outside of the Sedo marketplace for the purpose of circumventing fees that would otherwise be due to Sedo is strictly prohibited. This includes using user contact information obtained from Sedo or using any of Sedo's services or features to offer to sell any listed domains outside of the Sedo marketplace or sending unsolicited commercial email offers to bidders that have bid on your domains, or any domains listed on the Sedo marketplace.
--------

Per my agreement with sedo, all offers and sales of domains listed at said site are required to be handled through them.

Please make an offer via the domain purchasing utilities at SEDO

I’m certain you can understand my reluctance to offer anything that might constitute a business arrangement outside of SEDO

Thank you,

And yet, I still got the... "can you accept, please use appraisal at.." response.

It's almost like talking to a wall

--kevinodie

[BiddersUp]

Great Post and information. Thanks for the warnings!

[harston]

================================
From: <carter@eliteinvestment.net>
Subject: Offer for [DOMAIN_NAME] (sent [CURRENT_DATE])

Hello,

Your domain name has been found online.

Please let us know your price.

We make money on selling and buying names and sites. Now the domain
business is very attractive.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,
Anthony Carter
Vice President
Elite Capital Investment Group
================================

You'll see, that on his website you can find mistakes like in his address in UK. First email was send from hosting server, but next messages was send from 213.140.225.228 - chcek it on google ;)

As always he want domain appraisals.

===============================
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:
http://webtalk.007sites.com/Archive/461239.htm
===============================

And at least:

===============================
Many experienced sellers suggested me www.EasyNameSale.com as a trustworth manual service. They charge per name not per hour. I've read only positive comments about them.
===============================

Ok, so let's see:
eliteinvestment.net have MX smtp.secureserver.net
EasyNameSale.com have MX smtp.secureserver.net

What about whois ? It's the same:

Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States


... ROTFL ;)

[safesys]

that mail mx and privacy whois are both the registrar godaddy - there are millions of people using both of those. still an obvious appraisal scam though.

[Matt]

Originally posted by kevinodie
And yet, I still got the... "can you accept, please use appraisal at.." response.

It's almost like talking to a wall

--kevinodie

I wonder how many appraisals they actually get. I imagine it's a substantial amount through the course of a year.

Clearly they are happy with their spiel, it must work as it really hasn't changed that much over the years.

[nascar59]

From: <carter@eliteinvestment.net>
Subject: Offer for [DOMAIN_NAME] (sent [CURRENT_DATE HI FOLKS THIS IS THE EXACT EMAIL FROM THE SAME PERSON OFFERING TO PURCHASE MY DOMAIN SPACEPORTONLINE.BIZ HE HAS SENT ME FOUR EMAILS ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO TO SELL IT FASTER SAYING IF HE SELLS IT FASTER HE GETS 15% OF THE SELLING PRICE LUCKY FOR ME I READ A FEW OF THE THREADS AND THANKFULLY I NOW THAT I HAVE THIS INFO I'AM GOING TO PLAY HIS GAME AND CONTACT HIM ABOUT SELLING THE DOMAIN AND CALL HIS BLUFF I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.THANKS AGAIN FOR THE INFO ON THIS CREEP

[PutuHamsa]

Thanks for all information.

[emyjarule]

[Mod edit: self promo removed]

[DomainInvester]

Has anyone been scammed by this Mark Boenisch guy?

boenisch@toughguy.net Mark Boenisch Vice President TNS Software Consulting

It seems like anyone's address from @toughguy.net seeking domains are scammy.
He tried to get me appraise one of my domains at domainsecondhand.com, I think that it's a webhosting site now..

[vendeur21]

I receive email form scamers, donald-beltran at name-deals .com anthony-arbuckle at name-deals .com and
if you see the domain name of their email www . name - deals . com it don't exist online, also his
name DONALD BELTRAN sound like a tipical name of a spam - scammer, I receive hundred of theses email
form spamers with name like Donald Beltran, Anthony Arbuckle etc theses are scammer tipical names who
mix american name with european name.

Look here theirs emails :


-------------------------------FIRST EMAIL ----------------------------
Hello,

We are interested in your domain name for sale.

Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

If you have other names for sale please email us yiur full list with prices for consideration.

Looking forward to doing business with you.

Regards,

Donald Beltran

CEO

Web Hosting & Domains LLC

donald-beltran at name-deals .com

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.

------------------------------END FIRST EMAIL --------------------


----------------------------- SECOND EMAIL -----------------

I'm thinking about 6,000 - 8,000 USD for your domain. What do you think about this price range?

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:



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

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

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.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.
----- Original Message ----- From: frank bogart
To: donald-beltran at name-deals .com
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 3:08 PM
Subject: re:

------------------------------------------------- END SECOND EMAIL ------------------