Appraisal Scams

Domain name appraisal scams are very common in the industry. Here is a typical scenario:

Step 1. A domain name owner receives an unsolicited email asking them about a domain they own. The sender makes it sound like they are interested in buying the domain from them, often for a large amount of money.

Step 2. The domain name owner responds to the email and the sender requires the owner (as a part of the sale process) to submit the domain name to an appraisal service. Of course, the buyer names the appraisal service.

Step 3. The domain name owner submits the name and pays for the appraisal service.

Step 4. The sender disappears, stops responding to email messages, or decides that he/she isn't interested after all.

What has occurred here is that the alleged buyer, is somehow affiliated with the appraising company. All they wanted you to do is to pay money for an appraisal.