I own several domain names so it is not unusual for me to get an email asking if I would be interested in selling. I typically respond that for the right price, I am interested. However, something about today’s unsolicited email struck me as a little off. Here is the message body:
Hello!
I’m interested in buying gothandglamour.com.
I’ve found it through Sedo.
Please respond with how much you are looking for it. Just specify this price in the subject line.
If you have other names for sale please email me your list with prices.
Regards,
Abram Weinstein, Ph.D.
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So I did a little research which turned up this blog post by domain name investor Morgan Linton. It was a very interesting read about how the domain appraisal scam works. In a nut shell, a prospective buyer of your domain name contacts you agrees to your price if XYZ domain appraisal company (which is owned by the scammer) agrees with the valuation of the domain. You pay for the appraisal and then never hear back from the prospect.
The comments were equally as informative and several readers had posted similar stories, with emails very similar to the one I received above.
Suffice to say, I replied to the email, stating that “bidding woudl start at $10,000 USD” and I am awaiting the return reply as to which “domain appraiser” they want me to use. I will keep you posted.
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