Scam Alert – New Domain Appraisal Scam: cheap-web-hosting-search.com

Few days ago a scammer trying to use one of the oldest and most effective scams in the book, the Domain Appraisal Scam. This scam works when the scammer sends you an email indicating they would like to buy your domain name. You get all excited and send back a price, magically they agree, but first they want to see an appraisal from a “trusted” source. The scammer wanted to buy www.myw0.com and he did not care the price.

In most of these scams they reference a blog post which recommends them, this site is also run by the scammer. The scammer owns the appraisal site and the blog, so when you get your appraisal they keep the money and disappear.

This scam has been going on for years now and I have always been committed to alerting the community to these the moment I know about them. The latest scam comes from the alias Michael Berlinski with an email address from cheap-web-hosting-search.com. IF you receive an email from this person, do not use their appraisal service, this is a scam not a real offer on your domain.

The email you will receive should look something like this:

Hello!

 I'm interested in purchasing how2assist.com.

 

Please let me know your price. We are investing money in domains. Our company offers different hosting solutions. We have branches in several countries and help our clients to find a web hosting solution that fit their needs. If you have more domain names for sale, please email me the list with prices.

 

 Best Regards,

 

 Michael Berlinski

 President

 Hosting Net Solutions Inc.

 - - - * * * Then Followed by another email * * * - - -

 In order to process with the deal I need two things:

 1. Please send me an appraisal certificate.  Even if you don't have a traffic they will value your domain.

 2. We'd like to know your property has no problems with trademarks. Some good appraisal companies include this option in the valuation report.

 Please don't worry. This is not a complicated process. It takes only 2-4 minutes to order online and wait about 24 hous for the results. Please take into account, I'm not a novice and don't accept free or automated valuations. I asked in the forum about reliable and independent valuation services with the trademark verification option. Please read this information:

http://www.forum-windows-club.com/Archive/751642903.htm

 If the valuation comes higher you can change your asking price. After you send me the professional evaluation with the trademark verification via email (usually it takes one day to obtain it) we'll be doing the business. What is your preferred payment method:  Escrow.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

 

 Best regards,

 

 Michael Berlinski

 

 President

 

Please help spread the word so that nobody else falls for this scam. As always I will continue to alert you the moment I know of a new scammer. If you know have received an email from one of these scammers please feel free to share it in the comment section below.

NOTE: If you are looking a place to sell your domain names try using SEDO.COM. It looks good and they take a commission of 15% – 20% when you it actually sell and most of the transferring is done by them.