Domain Broker Spam – Riverside

This morning we received an unsolicited email (below). The email appears to have been sent to us because we own a different extension of the same keyword domain.

The reality is that you can use a backordering service or hand register the domain name yourself, if it expires. Given the hype around the new TLD’s, I’m sure the industry will be seeing a lot more of this type of activity.

Have you received this email? Leave a comment and let us know!

——————-

Good day, my name is Edward Clark sales specialist representing Riverside Domain Brokers.
DOMAIN.com is listed for sale and with our software and connections we can obtain the domain for you.
We don’t charge upfront and all you have to do is express your interest by filling out:

http://riversidetld.com/acquire/EDITED-OUT

You will receive a year of registration at no cost with your purchase and will only be charged once by Riverside Domain Brokers.

You can forward DOMAIN.com to any of your domains or vice versa free of charge.

After you confirm your interest and the domain is secured, one of my transfer specialists will contact you.
Thank you for your time and have a nice day.

–
Edward Clark
Riverside Domain Brokers
2710 Thomes Ave Cheyenne
WY 82001 USA

New Email Scam – Domain Recovery

The email below was sent to our whois contact for a particular .net domain that we own.

It states that the organisation has “secured” the “.com version of your domain”. In fact they have done no such thing. The .com is available for anyone to register at any registrar.

If you click on the link, it takes you to a page asking you for US$99 and to pay via Paypal. This is essentially 10 times the asking price of a .com domain name.

We are posting this here in the hope that people will find it and not fall victim to this misleading conduct.

————

Hi,

Recently, we contacted you to inform you of the upcoming availability of DOMAIN.com. We are happy to inform you that right now the .com version of your domain is secured by Simple Domain Recovery and is available for purchase at our page.

What we do is take different measures to help you promote your brand on the Internet. Little things’ effectiveness can compare to securing .com to a domain with any other extension. Everyone knows .com, a lot of users will intuitively seek you at .com extension so don’t give a chance to anyone else to use that advantage of yours.

There are third parties who may be interested in your domain. Many people out there reserve .coms to existing sites and domains in order to make profit of ‘em. We may sell the domain to any of these persons and businesses but this is you who decides whether or not we do so. Please choose one of the following:

Secure DOMAIN.com right now!
Let it go (unsubscribe).

Best regards,
<name omitted>
Simple Domain Recovery,
<email omitted>

Who Are You Supporting?

If you surround yourself with people, then THEIR values and beliefs will have an effect on you.

Think about that for a moment – if you were in a room with successful like minded entrepreneurs, then you WILL feel some very positive energy, wont you?

What you may not know, is that OTHER people will judge YOU on the people you:

1. Promote (to your email list, at events, or via Facebook / Twitter)
2. Support (via ads on your blog or people you provide services to)
3. Associate with (conferences and interviews)

Why should YOU care? It’s simple….

When other people see who you promote, they may think twice about getting involved with YOU.

If you are seen to promote unethical people and products, then YOU are tarred with the same brush. Guilty by association. In addition, next time YOU have something to say or a product to promote, people will question it. They will also question YOUR decision making capability.

Scenario – How It Affects You

You get an email from someone you saw at conference a few times, asking you to promote his new product. You think it might make you some extra $$ per month, so you promote it to your list. But afterwards you find out that the person is dodgy and their product was a straight copy/paste from somewhere else. People complain, YOU are associated with it, and the industry is now talking about YOU.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. What is EVEN WORSE is if YOU continue to promote it !! Why? Because people form an opinion that YOU don’t know what you are talking about. They know this person or product is dodgy, but from THEIR perspective, YOU lack the insight to see it.

In 2010, if you have promoted a person or a product (which has turned out to be dodgy), then LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. Don’t promote them again! Stop yourself – seriously, learn how to SAY NO. Nobody said it was going to be easy, but people will respect you a LOT more if you can admit (even if it’s to yourself) that you made a mistake. All you need to do to fix this, is change your approach.

We are coming up on a new year. In 2011 I’d like to see the industry clean itself up. That starts at the grass roots level, with people like YOU.

Next time someone asks you to promote their product, STOP and think about it. Don’t just look at “all the other people on the bandwagon”. Ask yourself:

1. What will be the impact to MY reputation if this doesn’t work out?

2. How will people view my organisation if I’m seen to promote this?

3. Will I miss out on other (more valuable) opportunities if I promote this?

4. Who are the competitors to this product or person? Will they support me and my business if I’m seen to promote, FB Like or endorse this product/person?

These questions should help you determine the consequences of your actions. In the corporate world this is called reputational risk. It’s something that is closely guarded and protected above all else.

What I’m asking, is that you THINK about this – starting today. I wish you the best for 2011.

Don’t Be Fooled By Dodgy Domain Flipping Courses & Software

Every week for the past month I have received emails and phone calls from people asking me to promote their domaining products. In every single case, I have said NO !!!

This morning something happened that tipped me over the edge! I received another email about a new course on “domain flipping” with outrageous claims. As such, I felt obligated to write this post and give everyone a heads up.

Here are just a few examples, so consider yourself warned.

1. Domain Flipping Course

This course claims that it made it’s owner $10,577.55 per WEEK. Oh please….give me a break!!! If you see banners with “Make Money Flipping Domains” being advertised on various blogs – it’s probably this course.

2. Domain Availability Checking Software

Earlier this year a couple of guys announced some new “domain software” and gave it away for free. It claims to check if domains are available (nothing new here). It’s something that registrars do for free, but these guys have been pushing it as something special.

The concern I have is that the data could be used for frontrunning and to record what keywords you are searching for. Newcomers to domaining – be very careful what you use to register domains with – you might find that if you come back later, someone else has already registered the domain you were after!

3. Web-based domain software.

This software also claims to check domain auctions for “aged domains”. It’s being peddled by a bunch of marketers with no experience in domain investment. When it was released I had a brief look at it; it just didn’t work.

These snakeoil salesman have since updated their software to show a small number of domain names from various auctions – sound familiar?

One of their users contacted me recently asking about domain auctions and when I showed them the REAL, full list (from the auction company) – they were completely blown away.

4. Domaining Markets  (Free PDF)

Yet another free PDF with all sorts of claims about how to make money with domains. In order to get this, you need to sign up and give them your name and email address (which is then used to market directly to you and upsell you their dodgy domaining software).

A Serious Threat

These people are a serious threat to the integrity and stability of our industry.

1. They burn newcomers.

These snake oil salesman sink their claws into newcomers (to the industry) and leave them disenfranchised and believing they can’t make $$$ from domaining. This means they don’t register domains, they don’t bid, they don’t park, they don’t develop – they are gone and don’t come back.

2. They have no regard for copyright and reproduce our work as their own.

I’ve seen first hand, content being ripped off and presented as their own work. Some people say “go after them” others say “it will catch up with them in the end”. What do you think?

3. They “teach” their followers strategies that just don’t work.

These scammers are ignorant and their so called “secret tactics” just don’t work. If I had $1 for every person that said “I saw X speak at a conference and he says I should buy an aged domain. It’s just like how wine ages. What do you think?”

4. They cause many reputational risks to our industry

Think of the last time you tried something and it didn’t work out. If asked, you will probably share your experience with others. What we are starting to see are things like:

“Oh I tried that domaining thing once – I got a free PDF, bought some software and attended some GURU’s webinar, but I didn’t make a cent!”

Unfortunately, it’s a minority that ruin it for the rest of us. It’s the same thing with cybersquatters and people who register domains containing trademarked words/phrases. When they get found out, they attract the media spotlight and all of a sudden, the industry is tarnished with the same brush.

What Is Their Motive?

The primary motive of these leaches is NOT to help people, it’s to take THEIR money! Why? Because these people simply don’t know HOW to make money with domaining. Their business model is about slapping together another $97 “how to make money course” in the hopes of taking advantage of newbies.

Who Are They?

Oxygen thieves. I’m not about to name them all here because they would love the attention. If you are domain blogger, don’t give them the publicity.

Let’s be honest, these people would be laughed at, before they even got to the DOOR of a domaining conference. Most appear out of nowhere, but some of them are on the outer rim / fringe of the Internet marketing world.

Don’t get me wrong – we all have to start somewhere; but to use an analogy, these are people who have read a John Grisham book and now they are teaching people how to be lawyers.

In any (regulated) industry, these activities would be illegal. In Australia it could be classed as misleading and deceptive conduct. I’m not going to stand here and put up with it and neither should you.

So when you get another email, facebook, twitter post from someone touting the next best thing – delete it.

Scam .MOBI Ads On iPad – There’s An App For That!

Last night I was playing air hockey on my iPad (expert level of course) After the game finished the app displayed an advertisement for another game. Beside that advertisement was another one for a .MOBI !

I couldn’t believe my eyes – a .MOBI domain used in an advertisement on a mobile device – who would have thought?

I had to see who was behind it, and against my better judgement I clicked…. Yes I know the advertisement looks dodgy and the use of VISA in the domain name will no doubt land the domain owner in a UDRP case.

Anyway, it turns out the site diverts to usagc.org – a “Green Card Lottery” website which asks you for all your personal information. I’m going to stop short of screaming out “SCAM” at the top my lungs. A quick search uncovers Yahoo Answers, 419 forum (for scams) and many others talking about the site.

For those people reading this post who want to get a Diversity Visa (DV) and go through the lottery process, the REAL site to visit is the US Department of State at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html

Good luck!

New Godaddy Phishing Attempt – .Info Bulk Orders

There is a new phishing email doing the rounds, masquerading as a Godaddy email. I received it this morning and have since notified Godaddy.

There are a few things that are interesting about this email:

1.It uses the actual Godaddy graphics on the Godaddy web server, so it looks real.

2. In the body of the message it says “Dear <your email address”.

3. It was sent to an email address on my server that doesn’t exist (normally I’d throw away those “catch all” emails, but not in this case).

4. The fake email was (spoofed) from sales at godaddy.com with a subject of “GoDaddy.com Order Confirmation”. So if you have a lot of automatic email rules that archive off these types of notices, it may find its way into your inbox, and you may never notice it.

5. FYI: The links go through to “dextersss-com-ua.1gb.ua/zzx.htm” – the webserver is live, but the site is currently producing a 404.

6. For the techo’s, SpamAssassin gave it a score of 17.223.

I only initially picked up on it because I didn’t recall ordering 300 .INFO domains. If that had of arrived during a bulk ordering process, I may have not noticed.

Given the fact it’s a bulk registration. Could this be a targetted email especially for domain investors? The average person isn’t going to register 300 domains! Of course, the other side of that thought process is that phishing emails are designed to be “clicked on”, so if a member of public sees it, they will probably freak out first, click it and then inadvertently hand over their credentials (login id and password).

What do you think? Have you received this email?

Company Tries To Sell Me A Pending Delete!

Its no secret that I buy domains / portfolios and own quite a few in the finance / mortgage vertical. As such, its typical for my mailbox to contain a few emails each day, from people approaching me directly.

When I looked closely at this recent email, there are a few issues that concern me. For the benefit of the community, I’ve decided to repost the entire message below.

Its clear from the whois record, that the domain name they are trying to sell me is in “Pending Delete” status. An interesting (some would say ethically challenging) business model.

For those newbies reading this, “Pending Delete” means they don’t own the domain, its about to expire (in less than 5 days) and you have about the same chance of catching it as they do. For the record, InTrust have a Better Business Bureau record!

—-

Priority Domain Availability Notice for refinance-my-mortgage.com:

In the next few days, refinance-my-mortgage.com will be listed for sale.  Since you have a similar domain name, we thought you might be interested in acquiring refinance-my-mortgage.com.

You can confirm your interest in the domain refinance-my-mortgage.com by filling out the form here: http://initrustdomainservices.biz/store/prioritynotice/SNIP

After we receive a confirmation that you are interested in the domain refinance-my-mortgage.com, our sales staff will be in touch with you promptly to make arrangements.

We look forward to hearing back from you.

Kind regards,

John Timmers

InTrust Domains

11590 Black Forest Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80908-6000

Domain Name Renewal / Credentials Scam – ISP Renewal Reminder

I received this unsolicited commercial email asking me to renew a domain that I’d already renewed!

The company wanted $79.95 to renew a .com domain name! Of course, I had already renewed it for less than 10% of that price – with my REAL registrar.

Companies like this provide me with a constant source of entertainment. On their website under “How does it work?” you will find Step #2 in their instructions. It reads:

“We interact with your Internet Service Provider/ ISP to renew your domain name. In cases your ISP requires your login information we will contact you by mail and you will have to provide us with login information so we can preform a renewal.”

Ohhh… so I send you my credentials! Oh that makes sense…. here are mine for Network Solutions.

ID: newbiescammer

Password: latvia-ownz-my-domains

Please renew all my domains for me as they will expire soon. Wow…. that should take care of my portfolio. Now, back to outbidding Halvarez….

New Domain Name Scam – 85% of Appraisal & No Affiliate Links

Like most domainers I get my fair share of spam, scammers, discount offers from registrars and the like. Here is a scam that I received last night.

– cut here –

From: j.jo...@rocketmail.com

Subject: Regarding your domain YOUR-DOMAIN.COM

Hello,
I came across your domain name YOUR-DOMAIN.COM and I would be interested in buying it from you.
Here is my offer, you have to send me a professional appraisal from one of the following companies. and I will pay you 85% of the appraised price.
For payments under $2000 I prefer to use paypal. And for larger amounts of money I prefer if we used escrow.com

I accept appraisals from any of these companies:

-sedo.com
-pedma.com
-accuratedomains.com

If you already have an appraisal from one of those companies please forward it to me, and we will do business.

Regards,
James Johnson

– cut here –

Pedma is a parking page, Sedo is self explanatory and Accurate Domains.. are they? I have no idea.

For me, the interesting question is…. Why would someone refer people to an appraisal website with NO affiliate link? The html version of the email doesn’t have an affiliate link. As such, the only people to benefit from this appear to be Sedo and/or AccurateDomains. That is assuming that the person(s) behind this scam are not going to take your domain away using some other means.

What do you think? Have you received a scam lately? Post and let us know.