Domain thief stole my money!

[Thoriso]

Domain thief stole my money!

Can you believe this guy? He contacts me and says he has a client interested in my domain and gets me to part with $91 to get a "human appraisal" for my domain.

After getting the darn certificate I decide that his clients keep changing and he is insisting that he is legit; this makes no sense and I do a WHOIS check on his domain and the domain that gave me the certification:

"I almost went white with shock!" And thats alot for a black man.

His Whois was not only identical, both domains were registered around September 2010.

I was so mad. I opened a dispute with Paypal without telling the fake broker that I was on to him and suddenly: silence.

I hope nobody gets caught again; these guys are getting clever.

Check the forum domain he sent me to: www.thenamepros(DOT)com/Archive/94253017.htm
You can replace (DOT) with .

I don't even want to link to the forum. Can anyone even vouch for this forum? Am I just paranoid or right?

Here is the email address ([email protected] and certification domain http://www.CertifiedDomainValue(DOT)com I paid to. They are registered at Godaddy.

 

[exxe]

That's the "domain appraisal scam".

 

[Thoriso]

That's the "domain appraisal scam".

Do I have any recourse other than charge backs or disputes (which I am unsure of) through Paypal?

 

[snicksnack]

This is a normal domain appraisal scam. It is amazing that people still fall for it. There are so many warnings on the domain forums about these scams, but it seems many people do not read it.

I don't think you have a chance getting your money back. You received your "appraisal", thus you cannot dispute it as you got what you paid for. That you you only bought the "appraisal" becuase you believed you would be able to sell the domain, shouldn't matter to paypal.

 

[stewie]

ouch, sorry to hear about that. That is a basic scam, you weren't the first and you won't be the last.

as exxe said.........That's the "domain appraisal scam".

 

[DomainScoop.Com]

paypal does not really help with VIRTUAL goods, if you put that you bought the appraisal, they may not refund your 91.

Next time, when you get too good to be true, and quick money scheme, I would strongly suggest you to google it.

 

[Thoriso]

paypal does not really help with VIRTUAL goods, if you put that you bought the appraisal, they may not refund your 91.

Next time, when you get too good to be true, and quick money scheme, I would strongly suggest you to google it.

Or ask about it in this forum. :blush:

What an embarrassing situation.

 

[sitemarker]

If you've funded paypal via your credit card, then contact your bank who issued your cc. Explain your side of the story. If they agree with you for a charge back, your bank will reverse and paypal will have no option ( even if they dispute) but return your money and/or freeze the account of the thief... this is in their TOS.

 

[Thoriso]

If you've funded paypal via your credit card, then contact your bank who issued your cc. Explain your side of the story. If they agree with you for a charge back, your bank will reverse and paypal will have no option ( even if they dispute) but return your money and/or freeze the account of the thief... this is in their TOS.

Thats a great idea. I will do that and let you guys know how it turns out. We have to stamp out as much of these cockroaches as we can!:veryangry:

---------- Post added at 02:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 PM ----------

My credit card company says I am on my own with Paypal. Because I authorized the transaction it will not be reversible. I can only prevent him from recharging me illegally in the future which won't happen through Paypal.

It sure is so bloody easy to commit fraud these days. I wish the people in charge would get off their buttocks and punish these guys, severely.

The thing that really upsets me is that I could have lost truly valuable domains through this clown.

Thank you guys for your help and insights. I will be way more cautious in the future.

 

[sitemarker]

That sucks, man! Authorized credit card transaction doesn't automatically mean you had consent, full or partial. You were misled towards a malicious transaction. I would appeal to your cc company. They're supposed to look after your interest. Not sure if they understood that paypal was simply a third party in this case.

 

[snicksnack]

I think it is very difficult to prove that he was mislead. He ordered an "appraisal" and got one. Most likely the "broker" and the "appraisal company" are to different companies (evenso they might work together and run by the same people), so they appraisal company can prove they have fulfilled their obligation. I understand that it sucks, but I doubt that you can do much about it. If someone asks you for an appraisal from sedo and you get it and latr backs out of the sale you also wouldn't be able to claim your money back from Sedo.

 

[Biggie]

Hi

just chalk up one for the scammers and expense the amount you paid in taxes, if any


it's part of the learning experience and most will say...."you're not a real domainer, unless you've been "beat" out your money at least once".




welcome to the "cliz-zub" my brother

 

[rmbdomains]

THE SAME GUY TRIED TO STEAL MY MONEY!!!

Except I told him that if he was really serious about buying my domain name, he would order the appraisal himself and I would refund him the amount if he decided to buy my name.

It was the same guy, Ralph Leonhardt, except I didnt fall for it.

Thanks for the confirmation that he is a theif. I wasn't quite sure, but I definitely wasn't going to pay $100 for an appraisal.

Be careful everybody!

 

[Thoriso]

Yup; haven't herad from "poor" old Ralph since. I don't want to email him. I have printed the receipt and will definitely get tax refund for it.

Talk about Baptism by fire!

 

[grcorp]

I don't think you have a chance getting your money back. You received your "appraisal", thus you cannot dispute it as you got what you paid for.

Hit the nail on the head right there. Thoriso, you fulfilled your side of the contract by providing consideration, and they provided the exact service which they had promised you.

---------- Post added at 11:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 PM ----------

Except I told him that if he was really serious about buying my domain name, he would order the appraisal himself and I would refund him the amount if he decided to buy my name.

It's how you can beat most scams.

You tell me your client may be willing to pay $x,xxx and up for my name but you want me to get a $75 appraisal done? Have him pay the $75 and I'll knock it off the purchase price.

You tell me your course can make me $25,000+ on a single real estate flip, but you want $4,995 to teach it to me? Why don't you teach it to me and I'll pay you back on my first deal?

You tell me that I won $750,000 in the lottery but I need to pay a $150 "Processing Fee" to have it sent to me? Why don't you just take that $150 out of my prize and send me $749,850?

Somehow scammers don't take kindly to a seemingly simpler route.