BUYERS BEWARE: Possible stolen names for sale via email

[TheLegendaryJP]

Some time ago last year I contacted the owner of HB.net and HQ.net/HQ.org . I was informed they were not for sale .

Now two nights ago I get an email from...

[email protected]; on behalf of; Domain Manager [[email protected]]

stating the names hb.net and hq.net are now for sale and to make offers . I inquired but also asked since recent whois info changed that he please also email me from his admin. address and verify he is the owner and payment is by escrow or bank wire only is that ok. I did this from 3 email address eventhough only 1 received the mail . Guess what, all 3 received the exact same generic reply and avoided verification I asked for ! I strongly believe Guy Wingate ([email protected]) has had his names stolen but have been unable to reach him via phone. Just a heads up for everyone to avoid these names unless proven otherwise. They look stolen and are being sold in a likewise manner. Take care and becareful.

 

[dolansco]

Well spotted Josh...

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

I was sure others here might have got the same email.

 

[copper]

Too many stolen names lately :uhoh:

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Too many stolen names lately :uhoh:

Always has been copper, just being revealed more and more now. I have to say it is rather upsetting that in some cases the names stolen have been $1k-$20k range and the person who owned them now has to spend thousand to get them back and prove a case via legal assistance. I have personally run across 3 this last two weeks, one a nice generic .com worth $10kish but the guy doesnt have money to hire a lawyer and of course the registrar's are no help to him. In alot of these cases the registrar is shown ownership proof ( receipts etc. ) but if the theif shows a fake contract ( obviously registrar doesnt know this ) and has hacked the owners email the registrar fails to act stating the name was transfered from the admin's email and to avoid legal repercussion's themself ( understandable but frustrating ). It happens alot but be sure these individuals if in the US should and in some cases will face criminal charges.

Remeber AlienGG and how I told him I would expose him for theif he was once I had my ducks in a row ? There are more members here who will face the same , they know who they are. The balls these people have is incredible, big balls= big jail time if they don't try to right their obvious wrong.

 

[BobDiGiTaL]

There are more members here who will face the same , they know who they are.

Legend, Are you saying there are DNFers that steal domains and sell them on this forum?

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Legend, Are you saying there are DNFers that steal domains and sell them on this forum?

Exactly, here and elsewhere. I cannot say much more at the moment for obvious reason's but in time the hammer will fall and fall hard. They have screwed with the wrong people. Names ranging from $1k to $XXX,XXX. You know me Bob I expose once the evidence is undeniable. What really pisses me off is if these buyer's did a whois search they would see red flags but do they want to see red flags ?

 

[FuseFX]

Legend, Are you saying there are DNFers that steal domains and sell them on this forum?

Doing that is a sure-shot way of getting a permanent ban. =) If you ever see anyone suspected of selling a stolen domain here, REPORT HIM OR HER to any of the moderators.

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Doing that is a sure-shot way of getting a permanent ban. =) If you ever see anyone suspected of selling a stolen domain here, REPORT HIM OR HER to any of the moderators.

PM replied too.

Be sure the people involved are being watched and each name investigated. No sale is going without being looked at and any future sale I see will also be scrutinized.

 

[katherine]

Name and shame...
Tar and feather ? :-#:

 

[jazzpetals]

Just out of curiosity, what happens to the buyers of these names that were stolen? Are they out money that they unwittingly paid to these sellers?

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Just out of curiosity, what happens to the buyers of these names that were stolen? Are they out money that they unwittingly paid to these sellers?

Funny you should ask, I had an interesting discussion about that this week. In some cases there is a chance the name would not be returned as the buyer can claim he bought the name in good faith and paid a fair market value. I have always believed it didn't mater but apparently it is always a possibility. Keep in mind that new owner may end up with legal expenses now as well.

Name and shame...
Tar and feather ? :-#:

In time, could be tomorrow maybe in 6 months,not enyirely up to me . I know the individual(s) will read this and hopefully make life easier on their victims. Sure they will be tar and feathered here, lose membership and credibility but ultimately I wonder if 5-10 yrs in jail is worth it to them ?

 

[Gerry]

I am getting way too many unwanted and unsolicited offers to buy names almost on a daily basis. Those two were not sent to me...yet.

This activity seems to have really picked up in the last month or so and even more in the past couple of weeks. What used to be from one source per day now is coming from many source on a daily basis.

I have sent emails back telling them to cut the crap but that doesn't work.

I need a script where I can automatically flood their email boxes. I have perhaps a little over 4000 domains (not sure exactly...afraid to count) and I can sent one email per domain asking for offers.

 

[PRED]

Scary stuff.
Nice work JP.
What's the safest bet? Privacy whois?
Wonder if Moniker do a special bulk rate to protect getting unwarranted emails.
Tbh i would only bin any emails sent to me anyway, but wouldn't want to be sent in first place.

 

[Deleted member 70408]

I received a poorly written email about a good name that was for sale via email. I checked and the name was registered to a company of the same name, so it seemed odd that it was for sale. I did a whois check, same info for the past 8+ years. However, the day before, the email address changed to a hotmail account with all other info the same. I called the owner to warn her and left a voicemail. Next day I received a thank you email as another domain investor also called and spoke with her, detailing what he thought happened. Because of quick thinking, we were able to save a nice lady from losing her name.

Crap like this gives us a bad name. It's sad to think that some people would probably buy the name just knowing that by the time the theft is caught, they won't have it anymore and will plead ignorance.

IMO, ALWAYS do a Whois history check when buying a name and either buy from trusted sellers or make sure the domain name you are buying has been owned by the seller for a long period of time. The longer he has owned it, the more likely it is legitimately his. If you have ANY questions, call the previous owners to make sure they sold it. Go with your gut. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, be a good domain citizen. As they say on the NYC subways, "If you see something, say something." If something strikes you as being shady, alert the owner. Just because you find an unlocked car with an iPod in it, you don't have the right to take it.

 

[Devil Dog]

Interesting. I patiently await those individuals being outed.

 

[DomainBELL]

thanks for the headsup JP...

those are super names... I can see why you want them...
I feel bad for the true owner not even knowing what is happening to
his names... I also wonder what else he owns...

Is there a way knowing someone's whois info for a domain history search
to then find what other domains a particular person owns ??
a tool ?? etc... I have always wondered this....


~DomainBELL (Patricia)

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

thanks for the headsup JP...

those are super names... I can see why you want them...
I feel bad for the true owner not even knowing what is happening to
his names... I also wonder what else he owns...

Is there a way knowing someone's whois info for a domain history search
to then find what other domains a particular person owns ??
a tool ?? etc... I have always wondered this....


~DomainBELL (Patricia)

I called again and left him a message but with the TZ difference who knows when he'll get it or call back.

As for what someone owns. Only three ways I know of...

1. Reverse IP
2. Google
3. Ask them

 

[HomerJ]

i'm starting to get paranoid with all this talk of stolen domains lately. i don't think i have anything right now thats really worth the taking, but like the guy who recently got his names hijacked said, its my time and effort regardless.

worthless parasites ... ;<

 

[D'same]

Jail time is the only solution to some of these criminals....its not nice knowing you are going to be a 350 lb gorilliphant's bitch...should give them the shivers ....lol

simply banning or returning the name is nothing....they will just move onto another area or forum....