# Unsolicited domain name purchase offers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143 "2008-02-18T19:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/1 "2008-02-18T19:43:03Z")
I keep getting offers through e-mail to buy our domain name. They’re always short and to the point, but almost certainly spam. What are they trying to accomplish? Here’s the text of one: > [@](#): > > Hello, > I know this is forward, and apologize. Should you decide you want to sell [XXXX.com](http://XXXX.com), I can make you a $40,000 offer. > > Regards, > JoAnn Giordano I get these offers every few days with different amounts and different names. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/2 "2008-02-18T20:12:21Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] I keep getting offers through e-mail to buy our domain name. They’re always short and to the point, but almost certainly spam. What are they trying to accomplish? Here’s the text of one: I get these offers every few days with different amounts and different names. [/QUOTE] I would plan on there being a snag in the payment after the domain is transferred. Fake money order, etc. Nobody with 3 firing brain cells is throwing around that kind of cash without a more detailed proposal and or clear cut contact info to a web venture firm of some kind. I would bet you dollars to donuts someone is hoping that a sucker will bite, shaft them on payment, and then charge massive amounts of money to release it back, domain kidnapping for ransom? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/3 "2008-02-18T21:35:59Z")
I was going to respond just to bait the person and find out what they would ask me to do, but the reply-To address seems like a legit address that has nothing to do with the sender of the spam. And there’s no URL in the message either. So what are they trying to accomplish? Arg, I hate spam. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/4 "2008-02-18T21:55:12Z")
$40,000 seems ridiculous, but legitimate offers do just arrive sometimes. My sister sold a domain that way - guy offered her $300 and she took it. What is it about your domain that would supposedly be worth that much money? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/5 "2008-02-18T22:47:52Z")
Could it simply be an attempt to verify that the domain is active and receptive? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/6 "2008-02-19T01:19:21Z")
It’s a short domain name, so it could be attractive because of that. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/7 "2008-02-19T05:24:30Z")
If it’s a short name, it’s _possible_ it’s worth a pretty penny, but most serious buyers don’t offer a huge sum right away before even determining whether the item is for sale. If it’s a scam, as it probably is, it’s likely a varient on the famous Nigerian prince scam. In short, they want your bank account info, and so they’ll offer you money to pique your greed – and pick your pockets. ---
**Author:** ![abby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@abby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsolicited-domain-name-purchase-offers/438143/8 "2008-02-19T07:38:32Z")
I get around offer for my main domain name a week. Because it’s a key part of my business (and my business name), it’s probably worth several million dollars. I’d never sell it. But it’s fun to play, so I always write straight back and say “sure it’s for sale. How much are you offerring?” (i have never been offerred a price as the OP has). They never write back. Other times, I say, “it’s yours for $20 million”, and they still never write back. Pretty poor marketing campaign. What if I was a serious schmuck!?