Hmm, Possible Scam? Help please.

[Furiouss]

This was a scam, I will post the e-mails I have had with the user for future reference. The order is from bottom to top, as the top e-mail is the most recent






No deal without appraisal from a trusted source. This simple rule has saved
me a lot of money and time. Feel free to contact me when you change your
position and let's do business the right way.
----- Original Message -----
From: Charlie Johnson
To: Norway Capital Investment
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 6:46 PM
Subject: RE: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)


Yes, I agree go ahead and have it appraised wherever you please. Take the appraisal fee out of the offer price. Thanks.


From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Re: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:42:06 +0400

.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass BODY.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;} Sellers always provide buyers with valuations. This is a common practice.

I don't trust $14 services like that GoDaddy's valuation service. Nobody will do a research for $14. We need a real manual service.

I researched several companies and here are the results:
I wanted to engage AccurateDomains.com as appraiser but looks like this company has very bad reputation
Just read this blog
http://accuratedomains.blogspot.com/
So I'm not going to accept this fraudulent service.

I also considered www.Afternic.com, but now it's clear their service is not reliable enough.
Just read this:
http://www.igoldrush.com/links3.htm
"Capsule Review: After lots of complaints, Afternic is no longer a recommended service. We will re-review the service in the near future."

Another complaint
http://www.out-law.com/page-1630


I was told about manual research service from http://www.DomainMart.com. It costs - $200/hour.

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.

----- Original Message -----
From: Charlie Johnson
To: Norway Capital Investment
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 12:26 AM
Subject: RE: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)


I have no problem having the domain evaluated go ahead. Take the amount it costs to have it evaluated out of your offer price. Thank you.


From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Re: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 23:57:45 +0400

.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass BODY.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;} It's a big risk to proceed without professional valuation. I already spoke
to industry experts and they prohibited me to do business without
valuation..

Without manual valuation nobody will buy. You'll sit on your domain for
years in this case, paying renewal fees to your registrar. Just think about
it. So sooner or later, you'll have to obtain an appraisal. Why waste time
now?

As a seller, you can use a valuation certificate to sell names to other
buyers. I cannot do the same because I don't keep control over your domain.

I'm still interested in your domain. Hope you'll change your position. I
simply don't want to take additional risks.

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

----- Original Message -----
From: Charlie Johnson
To: Norway Capital Investment
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:23 PM
Subject: RE: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)


Ok, as I said, if you feel you need a manual valuation, go right ahead. Have one done on the domain name, then subtract the cost from your offer price.


From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Re: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 16:44:54 +0400

.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass BODY.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;} It's a standard practice to show independent valuation to buyers/resellers.
Nobody will do business without it. I'm a businessman and have no intention
of changing rules which help both parties to avoid additional risks.

Of course, investors never take into account auto-generated vlauations. So
manual valuation is a "must" too.

I read the following information about appraisals at:
http://webtalk.007sites.com/Archive/437215.htm

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

----- Original Message -----
From: Charlie Johnson
To: Norway Capital Investment
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 4:19 PM
Subject: RE: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)


If you wish to have the domain appraised, you can pay for it and take the money out of your offer. I will accept $5,000 minus appraisal fee, and Escrow fees. Thanks.

Charles Johnson

From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: Re: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 09:27:48 +0400

.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass BODY.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;} Can you accept 5,000 USD?

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:
http://webtalk.007sites.com/Archive/437215.htm


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: Charlie Johnson
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 2:20 AM
Subject: RE: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)


Hello there Mr. Knight,

At the moment I do not have a price set for this domain. I believe it to be of value which is why I registered both the .com And .org . If you are interested in purchasing these domains from me, please reply with an offer.

Sincerely,
Charles Johnson


> From: [email protected]
> To:
> Subject: Offer for mininocs.org (sent 10/01/2008)
> Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 13:25:03 -0700
>
> 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,
> Joshua Knight
> Vice President
> Norway Capital Investment Group
> ========================================================
> 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.
> ========================================================
>​

 

[Coopey]

Looks like the text book first email in the classic appraisal scam...

 

[mulligan]

No .. But send these domains directly over to me for an appraisal and I'll get right back to you.

(Has reading been dropped from the schooling system .. worldwide?)

 

[Furiouss]

Hmm, I don't know if this is an Appraisal scam as the title of the email was " An Offer on Mininocs.org"

 

[Biggie]

Hmm, I don't know if this is an Appraisal scam as the title of the email was " An Offer on Mininocs.org"

you would have to wait until after you replied to them with a price or reply asking them to make an offer.

then, if they reply, by asking you to get an appraisal from a specific place, it could be a scam.

but right off the back...i would just respond normally, unless others reported same email from same source or same m.o.

 

[theinvestor]

If they don't state a domain in the email...it's a scam.

I assume you took it out? But, i agree with biggedon. Reply normally...and then waste their time a bit

 

[stock_post]

It looks like a scam to me

 

[FuseFX]

If they don't state a domain in the email...it's a scam.

I assume you took it out? But, i agree with biggedon. Reply normally...and then waste their time a bit

Or mass mailing without mail-merge. But yeah, whenever I hear from a company which doesn't show up any exact-match results in Google, I consider it to be a scam.

Just search for "Norway Capital Investment Group" (with the quotes) in google.

 

[katherine]

It's the appraisal scam.
If you reply back and quote $100,000 for example they will tell you 'OK but I need a certified appraisal before, would you please order one at www.xxxxxx.com blah blah'
They don't want to purchase your domains, they just want you to order a bogus appraisal from their partners in crime.

 

[Sonny Banks]

It's the appraisal scam.
If you reply back and quote $100,000 for example they will tell you 'OK but I need a certified appraisal before, would you please order one at www.xxxxxx.com blah blah'
They don't want to purchase your domains, they just want you to order a bogus appraisal from their partners in crime.

Agree.
It's the same old scam model.

 

[bigfishion]

I also received the same email with the same text.

 

[BLazeD]

Any email where they don't state the domain, your name and the English is bad I don't reply to.

 

[stewie]

could be a scam, but you never know...if you do reply and they ask for appraisal then you know... proceed with caution. IMO

 

[Furiouss]

*Edited* First Post, It was a scam, read if you are interested.

 

[grubstaker]

http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/508859-robert-gardos-from-eliteinvestment-net.html

Same scam different name