Beware of domain scam!

Something to share with you guys.

Here's what the so called interested buyer said through email:

1st Email:
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Opera Engineering wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Did you get offers from other people already?
>
> What is your price for the domain mentioned in the subject line?
>
> I'm very interested in this name.
>
> I run a software company. We develop client-server systems and databases in MS SQL and Delphi. Buying and selling domain names is not my main business. Just another way to invest money and make additional income.
>
> Looking forward to do business with you.
>
> Best regards,
> Thomas Knutsen Ph.D.
> CEO
> Opera Engineering
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2nd Email:
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Knutsen wrote:
> How about 4,000 USD? Ok?
>
> Do you have an appraisal certificate?
>
> Domain name is an investment for me. In other words I'm going to sell your name later and make a profit. If I overpay I won't be able to make a profit in the future. It's very important for you and me to know the current market value of your domain.
>
> Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging a reputable appraisal company. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. I will only accept appraisals from independent sources I trust.
>
> To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum
> http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/64081.htm
>
> Juck check this posting.
>
> If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. I also hope you can give me 10% - 15%discount of the appraised value because I need a room to make profit.
>
> After I get an appraisal from you we'll continue our negotiations.
>
> How do you prefer to get paid: www.PayPal.com, www.escrow.com, check or wire?
>
> Hope we can come to an agreement fast.
>
> Looking forward to your reply.
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3rd Email:
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I need a proof (independent valuation) that your price is fair. I hope you
understand the importance of this question.

Usually, people who are selling names or web sites, provide buyers with
appraisals. This is a common practice and I'm not going to change this rule
because it's the best way to protect an investment.

I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate appraisals. So I
cannot accept appraisal from each and every site. I will only accept
appraisals from independent appraisal companies I know and trust.

Reading responses from experienced sellers I was impressed by one reply:
"Many Internet users are not smart enough and popular domain brokers are
using this fact to make money. They offer them cheap appraisal services. But
if their customers would have something in their heads they'd understand
experts could not make a professional research for $15-$20. These appraisals
are made by machines. Easy money for such appraisers as
http://www.Afternic.com and several other major brokers that offer cheap
auto-generated appraisals. In my eyes, all services under $60-$65 are not
manual and the results are generated by special scripts. I don't trust
auto-generated appraisals."

The same is true for GoDaddy and SEDO. Their services are not manual. They
are just collecting money using their well-known names.

Thank you for understanding. I'm looking forward to do business with you.
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So, it seems that this person want people to go to the forum he stated in the email, which is http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/64081.htm. In that thread, he want to brainwash people by saying that GoDaddy, Afternic are merely going after other's money by using automated Appraisal software. He also said that those appraisal below $60 are fraud. Then he would recommend Allfordomains.com to the owner of the domains! This way, he's trying to get the domain owner to get an appraisal done at Allfordomains.com which cost $69 per domain!

By the way, his email address is knutsen@operaen.com.

So guys, beware!

We have had a thread about this awhile ago. I can't remember who made the thread but there were couple of pages of discussion in it.

Just out of curiosity what domain did he want to buy?

heh, i also got that email recently :P knew it wasnt right when he was telling me i need domain appraisal from those crappy looking sites he sent links too.

Yea, what was the domain he wanted to buy?

If your on Gmail Google Blocked all the email addresses so as they get to our inbox's there servers filter them and remove them from ever entering the Inbox pretty cool eh

Wanna know? PM me.