Scam or not?

[Serjdm]

Hi all,

I've been contacted by a potential buyer via e-mail, and after quoting my price, received a request that I should do an expert non-automated appraisal and send the result to the potential buyer.

He will then buy at 10-15% discount from the appraised value.

I'm supposed to use one of "reputable" appraisal companies mentioned in this thread:

http://**********.ourplace.com/Archive/681294.htm

The thread looks fishy to me, but I don't see any other risk that losing money on appraisal.

Is this an acceptable business practice in the industry or is this a scam?

If a scam - then what's the catch?

Thanks in advance, would really appreciate insider advice.
</pre>

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Common scam and yes you lose money on the appraisal. Glad to see eventhough you are new you are smart enough to ask questions first. This one saved you some money . Maybe post the exact email and address.

 

[Bill Roy]

These get sent out by the thousand, the scam is simple (as most scams are), they ask for an appraisal - you have to pay for it - you never hear from the buyer ever again! Simple they have just got another punter to cough up for an appraisal!

But what is even more incidious is that they now have your credit card details! There is then a good chance that in the not too distant future you could well find out that money has disappeared from your card.

This is the general business model employed by these people.

But as JP said, 'well done' for asking.

 

[Serjdm]

Thanks a lot!

Below are e-mail headers:


------------------------
From - Sun Aug 19 03:44:43 2007
X-Mozilla-Status: 0001
X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000
Return-Path: <[email protected]>
X-Original-To: <my_email_address>
X-Virus-Scanned: by ClamAV at mailsnare.net
Received: from smtp04.mtu.ru (unknown [62.5.255.51])
by mx.mailsnare.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3BD4B33745
for <my_email_address>; Sun, 19 Aug 2007 07:44:43 +0000 (UTC)
Received: from firstbroker (ppp129-93.dialup.mtu-net.ru [62.118.129.93])
by smtp04.mtu.ru (Postfix) with SMTP id DCFD37DAA31
for <my_email_address>; Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:44:40 +0400 (MSD)
From: BNT Consulting<[email protected]>
To: <my_email_address>
Subject: <my_domain_name> (sent 08/19/07)
X-Mailer: NetMasters SMTP Demo
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:44:40 +0400 (MSD)</pre>------------------------

Link to the thread (decomposed since the dnforum substitutes links):


********** (dot) ourplace (dot) com/Archive/681294.htm</pre>

Sorry if I'm doing something wrong. Are the links not allowed?

The first word substituted by *** is "**********"

Even if I went for the appraisal, I was not going to use their suggested sites. I was considering sedo "whatever it's called" expert appraisal since I understood it's close to market value.

Thanks guys!!! Getting my feet wet I guess

 

[Devil Dog]

I'm still astounded how this individual always seems to find the "new" domainers to scam.

 

[Serjdm]

e-mail was from rivard at bonbon dot net

 

[Raider]

If a buyer requests an appraisal, THEY pay for it, at least in my book.

Most all of these are Scams, but if you think its authentic, reply back with a list of appraisal services you will accept at their expense.

 

[Bill Roy]

Sedo is about as good with their appraisals as a garden hose is against a forest fire! Save your money and ask for an appraisal on here from other domainers (this will give you a ball park re-seller value), generally end-user is between 3 and 10 times this depending on you finding an end-user and how much they want and can afford the domain.

 

[Serjdm]

Thanks everybody! Was most informative.

That's more or less what I did: suggested couple of links for appraisal and told his he's free to use them and I will honestly consider the results.

I've asked couple of times for appraisals here, but got no responses whatsoever. Guess, my domains are not that good (yet)

 

[Raider]

I've asked couple of times for appraisals here, but got no responses whatsoever. Guess, my domains are not that good (yet)

Your not alone, many of ours get passed up here. If a domain is easy to appraise, controversial or sparks interest, it appears these get the highest # of appraisals.