Friday, August 12, 2011

BrandNameService: Beware of this Domain Name Sale Scam

I have been using the internet regularly since I was 15, that was 10 years ago and one intuitive skill that I have learned over the years is the ability to smell scams from 100km away. This morning, I received this email from the "President of Brand Domain Name Services LLC" one Mr 'Marc Lorenz'.  I recently hand registered a high value domain and listed it for sale on Sedo yesterday, which explains why I got this email:

Hello,

We have found this name for sale listed in auction.

Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

If you have other names for sale please email us your domains with prices.

Looking forward to doing business with you.

Regards,

Marc Lorenz

President

Brand Domain Name Services LLC
marc@brandnameservice.com
========================================================
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any
viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message
and deleting it from your computer.
========================================================

I have learned that this scam targets domainers selling domains via Sedo. If you do not get an email from Marc Lorenz, you will probably get one from George Petersen, President at Domain Names & Web Hosting Clue LLC with email address petersen@brandnameservices.com. The company apparently has two Presidents! Read more about this scam on DotWeekly , the blogger had a similar experience a fortnight ago. You are at risk of losing $60 in this latest scam!!
When you get an email like this, delete instantly. It's a well known scam in the domain business.
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28 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 13, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    Thanks for the info, I received that email yesterday and I was smelling a scam.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 20, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    yes exactly same email sent to me and followed up with a second email after my reply. I smelt the rat after the 2nd email. IGNORE HIS EMAILS! Genuine buyers will buy through Sedo or leave offers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 23, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    Make that three presidents...

    Just got one from

    Mike Pullman

    President

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 23, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Me too.
    I get one from Mike Pullman.
    I had my doubt.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousAugust 25, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Hello,

    We are going to purchase your domain name.

    Our company is in hosting and domain name business.

    Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

    If you have other names for sale please email us your domains with prices.

    Looking forward to doing business with you.

    Regards,

    Mike Pullman

    President

    Brand Domain Name Services LLC

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Got one too. Mike Pullman. Shame, thought i had dropped lucky but it looked iffy from the off, and on closer inspection obviously a stock text.
    the little buggers

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    Thanks for the info, folks!

    This morning, the president's name is Andy Muller...

    I am glad I found this blog, just by googling the name of their company.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    Thanks all! Andy Muller just sent me the same email...oh well my millionaire dreams are on hold for a little longer!

    ReplyDelete
  9. DomainsAfricaSeptember 1, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    I guess your millionaire dreams will have to wait...Petersen, Andy Muller, Marc Lorenz, Mike Pullman, BrandNameSerivce, this idiot will make you poorer. It's just the same person changing his name everyday so that users don't find him on Google. Really stupid idea he has come up with of scamming new domainers...it seems he's not giving up, there must be some unfortunate souls falling foul to this scam.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    Hello,

    We are going to purchase your domain name.

    Our company is in hosting and domain name business.

    Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

    If you have other names for sale please email us your domains with prices.

    Looking forward to doing business with you.

    Regards,

    Andy Muller

    President

    Brand Domain Name Services LLC

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Got the above email today for a high value domain I registered sometime back. Thanks for the blogpost. I posted the full mail so that the guy can be googled easily for this email template at least.

    ReplyDelete
  12. trixbook@gmail.comSeptember 4, 2011 at 4:20 AM

    thanx today i got the same mail.

    can you tell me what to do?

    ReplyDelete
  13. MuqtharSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:48 AM

    i got a mail from muller may be another president.I'm thinking about 6,000 - 8,000 USD for your domain. What do you think about this price range?

    Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from independent sources I and my partners trust.

    To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies. Please check this blog with suggestions from other sellers and buyers:
    http://www.thenamepros.com/Archive/73528619.htm

    Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

    Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.

    If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15% discount.

    After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.

    What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

    Hope we can come to an agreement fast. well good i tried to check the site out before getting into any such deal. Thanks guys for your timely info.

    ReplyDelete
  14. new company registration consultant in kolkataSeptember 8, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    We have a seperate team which only does company registrations in kolkata.This way we differ from others as the experience and expertise gained by the core team in offering specialised services of company registrations.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    The new email is taller@brandnameservice.com . That's the new president. Seems the company changes Presidents every day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2011 at 2:37 AM

    Thank you guys for the info, i got one too this morning, ya now the pres. name is Taller. those scammers.

    ReplyDelete
  17. BrendanSeptember 13, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    lmao. I received the email from Taller 5 minutes ago. iI just listed my domaines 48 hrs ago so that is what made me Google the company first

    ReplyDelete
  18. robbyjocSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Got one too from taller
    thanks for this blog
    gl everyone for selling your domains... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. yadccSeptember 14, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    me 2 .. this blog shattered my million dollar dream though

    ReplyDelete
  20. AlexSeptember 14, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Just got one today from taller@brandnameservice.com After I put the domain up for sale at Ebay. It wasn't for sale at Sedo either. So he/she/it is even targeting ebay sellers now.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    Hi

    Eric here from the Netherlands. YES also I did receive this e-mail for my domainname xs2sex.com.

    This time Mr. Anthony Taller seems to be the Vice President.

    Well to all of you thanx for the warnings and if any of you is interested in xs2sex.com or 1xs4all.com please let me know :-)

    Bye bye

    GFrom the other side of the world

    ReplyDelete
  22. owner of domainSeptember 16, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Thanks Guys,
    I got one from Taller on Sept 14, 2010 for my site www.welcome2doha.com... please let me know what to do?? here is the email I recieved

    Hello,

    We are going to purchase your domain name.

    Our company is in hosting and domain name business.

    Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

    If you have other names for sale please email us your domains with prices.

    Looking forward to doing business with you.

    Regards,

    Anthony Taller

    Vice President

    Brand Name Services Inc

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousNovember 13, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    Hey guys...
    They have a new President now...

    ‘’Hello,

    We are interested in purchasing your domain name.

    Our company is in hosting and domain name business.

    Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

    If you have other names for sale please email us your domains with prices.

    Looking forward to doing business with you.

    Regards,

    Aaron Wedel

    President

    Domain Boutique’’

    Keep updating the scam cases please...

    Ioannis

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousNovember 19, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    And now it's Joshua Lederberg

    --------------------
    Hello,

    We are interested in purchasing your domain name.

    Our company is in hosting and domain name business.

    Please email us your desired price in USD or euros for the domain name in the subject line.

    If you have other names for sale please email us your domains with prices.

    Looking forward to doing business with you.

    Regards,

    Joshua Lederberg

    President

    Buy Domain Hosting LLC

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousNovember 21, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    If they email you and want to buy it, then please do not part with any money when they ask you to have your domain appraised. In fact email them back and tell them that as they are in the business of buying and selling domains, and in this case they want to buy from you, then they should get the appraisal done. Let them know that as a buyer they should know what they are buying before parting with money. If you were to buy a car, you are not going to ask the seller to value it for you, he has named his price and it would be down to you to do some research before you make an offer to buy.

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousNovember 22, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    exactly my thoughts - I've been offered Euro50k for a domain - I dont need a valuation on that - will ask him for a small deposit to hold it whilst he confirms any valuation. Who bets I dont hear from him again - BTW, he's called Joshua Lederberg at the moment! Muppet ............

    ReplyDelete
  27. mterrellNovember 22, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Joshua Lederberg emailed me...with all the same emails and all the same texts. I just emailed "him" with the link to this page and Do Not Contact in the subject line. I'll get one of my hacker friends to pay a visit, using the email account and ip he sent from. That'll teach "him" to f*** with the wrong people.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousDecember 25, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    I got that e-mail yesterday. And I real doubt while I reply to him and got another e-mail that asked me to go to http://www.authorizedappraisal.com/appraisal.htm for appraisal.

    Thanks for your remind.

    ReplyDelete

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