Know something about online scams? What could this scammer want?
 

I was selling a domain through an online auction, and it seems obvious to me that one of the bidders was pulling some sort of scam. His e-mail was in broken English and went something like "I want buy your product for asking price plus $100, please send info".

So, what could this guy be up to? He wants my name and address? What kind of scam could this be? Anyone have an idea? Could this just be a stupid person who actually wants the domain?

It's been suggested to me that his plan is to send a bogus check or money order for more than the asking price, and then ask me to send him the difference back. Think that's it?

not sure but I would stay away

He will insist on that the domain needs to be either appraised or go through some unheard of escrow company. Of course there is a fee that "both" sides pay or sometimes just you. Does not matter that is the scam in itself. They do not want your domain, they will not send you money. They just want you to pay for an apprasial or use the escrow service.

I am sure you can figure out from that how they get their money from the scam right?

1. Bogus check for more than the asking price, as you assumed, is my top guess as well. Or a paypal scam, he gets the domain and voids the transaction afterwards, telling paypal money was illegally transferred from his account.

2. A very popular one is the domain appraisal scam. They mail you with a very high offer for a shitty domain and tell you they'll pay you as soon as they get an appraisal from "Company X". Company X is their own appraisal service and of couse it costs alot, but many fall to it because they think spending a few hundred bucks and get a few thousand from the sale would still make it a good deal. Once you paid, you'll never hear again from the buyer.

3. He is an idiot and really wants the domain, but idiots tend to register shit and think they got something cool, they don't buy it at auctions..well, let me think twice, was it on Digital Point ? But I wouldn't risk it....

I have to agree with you 100%, it is an old scam that has been around for years.

I'm sure most of us have come accross this type of scam at least once, including me :winkwink:

Getting mails with tempting offers to the mail address in my whois almost every week :winkwink:

Both you & AfterShockMedia pretty much covered it!

[db] - Move a step ahead of them and email them from a gmail account with your asking price and let them know that if they want an appraisal, that you would be willing to pay 25% and you are only willing to use 'X' which is one that you know has a good reputation.

I'm almost sure you won't get a reply :)