Another round of the domain name appraisal scam is running around and with the very same email as as last round, just a "new" domain used. Macez.com is the latest domain used in the email and the email to me came from a Paul White and the email address paulwhite47@gmail.com . The name Mark Allen and email address markallen38@gmail.com have also been used.
The best thing to do is simply Delete the email. They are not really interested in buying your domain name, they just try to get you to pay for a domain appraisal!
Here is what the email looks like:
We are interested to buy your domain name XXXXXXXX.COM and offer to buy it from you for 70% of the appraised market value.
As of now we accept appraisals from either one of the following leading appraisal companies:
macez.com
sedo.comIf you already have an appraisal please forward it to us.
As soon as we have received your appraisal we will send you our payment (we use paypal for amounts less than $2,000 and escrow.com for amounts above $2,000) as well as further instructions on how to complete the transfer of the domain name.
We appreciate your business,
Yours truly,
Paul White
This is nothing new and has been posted on DotWeekly and several other domain related sites many of times. Please be aware, so you do not get burned by this latest domain appraisal scam! The best thing to do is a Google search using the domain name(s) in the email , email address it came from and personal name used. Likely how you are seeing this 
I hope this helped you and saved you some time and money. Sorry to be the one to break the bad new that they were not really interested in buying your domain, but at least I hopefully saved you some cash from a BS appraisal.
Here are some past resources of other similar domain appraisal scams or you can see all the domain appraisal scams I have wrote about here.
If you are new to DotWeekly.com, thank you for visiting and please be sure to stop back or browse around now. DotWeekly.com is all about domain name, internet marketing, SEO tips and tricks and general resources by me, Jamie Zoch a full time domain name investor, blogger and helper. Be sure to visit DotWeekly.com home page to see more stories and use the archive function on the right.
InternetInvestments.com
I just received the same email. Damn scammers…
George
Just got the same email….. sadly I was excited for a moment… But am too attached to the domain to care.
Nashville Tech Support
I got an email today from the same email address. I googled it and found your post warning about the scam. I knew something was funny when he’s in anther state and wanted to buy nashvilletechsupport.com
I hate scammers, and if you fall for this, it will cost you like $22.00, so run away!
n30
hey i have got the same email from Paul White.
lol..
thanks for the info..
Chris
Glad I found your post a a few others like it.
I just received:
We are interested to buy your domain name ————–.COM and offer to buy it from you for 70% of the appraised market value.
As of now we accept appraisals from either one of the following leading appraisal companies:
macez.com
sedo.com
If you already have an appraisal please forward it to us.
As soon as we have received your appraisal we will send you our payment (we use paypal for amounts less than $2,000 and escrow.com for amounts above $2,000) as well as further instructions on how to complete the transfer of the domain name.
We appreciate your business,
Yours truly,
Paul White
Samir Patel
I just got one of these. How annoying.
Manpreet
I have been a victim of such fraud emails, that was when I started domaining with only around 50 domains in hand, and I was so excited to get such offer email, I think I gave around $250 to them for appraising 7-8 domains. I did not receive a single email after paying them, the buyer was gone, ofcourse he did a good job this time, not me.
DN Technologies
I got the same email today which I instantly recognised as a scam as I’ve received the same sort of thing dozens of times in the years I’ve been domaining. I replied stating that I was thrilled to received the offer and purchased an appraisal through Sedo since they looked more of a legitimate company. Thought that it would be nice to make out as if the email backfired in providing Sedo with business instead
Jake
Thank you for posting this, my skepticism and your post saved me cash.
Shay
Thanks for this post. I just received the exact same email this morning from Paul White.
Brian Gilbert
Funny. I got one this morning on a domain we let expire back in January.
This time it was from Mark Allen [markallen38@gmail.com] though. : )
Brian
Dimos Ramiotis
Nice article Jamie.
I have too received a similar email from another Company.They just scam people to make money from the fake appraisals, they don’t interested about buying domains. Be aware… They are scammers
BC
Just got this e-mail myself. I’ll let you know if they make an offer.
same deal here
Same thing here. That bastard Mark Allen!
mark
I’ve got a few and one mentioned fleos.com and one from john harris for podzz.com
Michael
Same here. I hadn’t heard about any of this until I Google searched and came up with your post. Good job. You did a good service to the domaining community by putting this up.
Michael
John
I received a dozen of these original scam emails a year or more aqo. I responded to each by telling them that i did not subscribe to the theory of third-party Domain Appraisals and that 100% of my asking price of $XXX was the only offer i was interested in negotiating.
Naturally, I got no response… duh!
Patrick McDermott
“I replied stating that I was thrilled to received the offer and purchased an appraisal through Sedo… Thought that it would be nice to make out as if the email backfired in providing Sedo with business instead”
DN Technologies,
It’s not really a good idea to respond to these or any other scammers.
The scammers send out their scams in bulk and would not really care if you ordered an appraisal from Sedo.
By responding, you could be putting your name and email address on what’s called a “Suckers” list,
a compilation of those who responded.
That list is then sold off to other scammers.
Dennis Garvey
Got one of these email about a year ago. It just looked off so I didn’t reply. Got another this AM. When I googled “macez.com” I found your posting.
Thanks
web design
Also got the same e-mail and almost jumped for joy because they also listed sedo.com as an acceptable appraiser but obviously put macez.com on the first line, so did a search for it.
My e-mail today came from markallen38@gmail…
thanks for warning!
Charles
Hey thanks for the post. Very helpful!I got the email today and said if they want to pay for the appraisal,I will send them a receipt…A free appraisal service. WOW! HA HA
Richard Tarjeft
We are interested to buy your domain name fundingfacts.com and offer to buy it from you for 70% of the appraised market value.
As of now we accept appraisals from either one of the following leading appraisal companies:
macez.com
sedo.com
If you already have an appraisal please forward it to us.
As soon as we have received your appraisal we will send you our payment (we use paypal for amounts less than $2,000 and escrow.com for amounts above $2,000) as well as further instructions on how to complete the transfer of the domain name.
We appreciate your business,
Yours truly,
Mark Allen
LOL knew right away when they listed Sedo below the top was their money trap.
Susan
anyone to include sedo and afternic and buy domains and the rest of the registrars and domain re-sellers have no business doing domain appraisals, that is a direct “conflict of interest” think about it! they are in the business of buying and selling domains….why would you take their word for an appraisal, maybe they wish to lowball you so they can buy it out fropm under you…..it’s about time,ICANN and some other regulators do something about this
Gimeti
I got same email from markallen38@gmail.com,
the domain i was contacted for is not even live and i don’t care about selling it. So I hit reply and asked them to pay for the appraisal if they are interested. I also said that my final price will not be what the appraisal says.
So i hit send and about two minutes later i get a reply… from postmaster of course. at that point i was sure it was a scam so i did a search for his email and this is where it brought me.
It’s unfortunate that some people may actually do the appraisal. I was approached to sell one domain before but it was through godaddy services. I am not saying that people will not contact you directly, in fact i have taken that approach myself to buy domains.
Be careful….
LUQUI
I have just received the same email asking for flytofly.com…
Jason Costello
I was actually excited for a second… the entire domain appraisal industry is a joke. Thanks a bunch for posting this!
Death to scammers.
Rick Winfield
Thanks for posting this, a simple Google search just saved me some $$$ after I got one of these emails today.
Danny Hatt
Yep, just got the Mark Allen Scam.
Good Scam i tell ya… lol
Gary
Thank you for posting this information; I am forwarding a copy of this link and the contact information I received to the FBI and other state and county authorities here. I would like to encourage all of you who have received this email to do the same. Together we can make sure that those involved in this type of crime are punished. Incidently, look at the header information regarding the email and post it here if you will.
A COPY OF THE EMAIL I RECEIVED:
We are interested to buy your domain name ftworthtelephone.com and offer to buy it from you for 70% of the appraised market value.
As of now we accept appraisals from either one of the following leading appraisal companies:
macez.com
sedo.com
If you already have an appraisal please forward it to us.
As soon as we have received your appraisal we will send you our payment (we use paypal for amounts less than $2,000 and escrow.com for amounts above $2,000) as well as further instructions on how to complete the transfer of the domain name.
We appreciate your business,
Yours truly,
Mark Allen
Gary
email header information, excluding my email info:
X-Apparently-To: xxx via 68.180.196.174; Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:27:33 -0700
X-YMailISG: S0naSx8WLDvutk7xTuf5O3MUnJVdSXk3YACWsTisaJ2E87o.NAi.RM5mH5s2KWaLINwIvd7VJv9HyU3H1hSfnyWfzY.gjZuBd_DoKmprdrbDYw7ejzu4vSzzhAgOM0l50.IazQPwBVoEOTSbnoovMAldt_SKafIrT9hrvP_01u1U0VUXEkPDRe4_jXjW2wD74eubriTx0c689S4hpszaIDVYw2ljZqBHCcygMDD5hh4krXiFS8H2pZEn5OPan6IZYO2QU6oItrorh5nRRjMTOV43EgPxU_jLr.4HI5myUTxBMrj067feV0hJkR4Ld_DnSpLJTW5mI0LpUXsb9Ek_3AsjQGIyUcK.b3CX4et7B2yLopGly4m9RTyjTaCVBZaiotscasUqVJWdDq1BkXGg_znx0q9OeCVr2VyOx9pE7q1U9UEHt0EUdX.YyQ9EhKQ-
X-Originating-IP: [64.202.189.39]
Authentication-Results: mta105.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com from=gmail.com; domainkeys=neutral (no sig); from=gmail.com; dkim=neutral (no sig)
Received: from 207.115.20.135 (EHLO flpd125.prodigy.net) (207.115.20.135)
by mta105.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com with SMTP; Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:27:33 -0700
X-Originating-IP: [64.202.189.39]
Received: from smtp25-01.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net (gem-mm03.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net [64.202.189.39])
by flpd125.prodigy.net (8.13.8 inb ipv6 jeff0203/8.13.8) with ESMTP id n82BRVtE013345
for ; Wed, 2 Sep 2009 04:27:31 -0700
Message-Id:
Received: (qmail 20460 invoked by uid 1000); 2 Sep 2009 11:27:32 -0000
Delivered-To: xxx
Precedence: bulk
Received: (qmail 20449 invoked from network); 2 Sep 2009 11:27:32 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO p3pismtp01-015.prod.phx3.secureserver.net) ([10.6.12.15])
(envelope-sender )
by smtp25-01.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net (qmail-1.03) with SMTP
for ; 2 Sep 2009 11:27:32 -0000
X-IP-SPAM: Confirmed
Received: from p3plsmtp01-04.prod.phx3.secureserver.net ([72.167.218.24])
by p3pismtp01-015.prod.phx3.secureserver.net with ESMTP; 02 Sep 2009 04:27:32 -0700
Received: (qmail 22924 invoked by uid 1000); 2 Sep 2009 11:27:31 -0000
Delivered-To:
Received: (qmail 22913 invoked from network); 2 Sep 2009 11:27:31 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO p3pismtp01-001.prod.phx3.secureserver.net) ([10.6.12.1])
(envelope-sender )
by p3plsmtp01-04.prod.phx3.secureserver.net (qmail-1.03) with SMTP
for ; 2 Sep 2009 11:27:31 -0000
X-IP-SPAM: Confirmed
Received: from domainstoreonline.net ([64.186.128.191])
by p3pismtp01-001.prod.phx3.secureserver.net with ESMTP; 02 Sep 2009 04:27:30 -0700
From: “Mark Allen”
Subject: Offer for your domain ftworthtelephone.com
To: “gary”
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; charset=”utf-8″; boundary=”YS6lbp3SBhncJ0mMGr9CKjV22Gv=_9kA3N”
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 08:27:21 -0300
Gary
The Data in Web Commerce Communications Limited (“WEBCC”)’s WHOIS database
is provided by WEBCC for information purposes, and to assist in obtaining
information about or related to a domain name registration record. WEBCC
does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree
that you will use this Data only for lawful purposes and that, under no
circumstances will you use this Data to:
(1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited,
commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail (spam).
(2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to WEBCC
(or its systems).
The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is
expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of WEBCC. WEBCC
reserves the right to terminate your access to the WEBCC WHOIS database in
its sole discretion, including without limitation, for excessive querying
of the WHOIS database or for failure to otherwise abide by this policy.
WEBCC reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.
Domain: macez.COM
Status: Protected
DNS:
ns1.ezydomain.com
ns2.ezydomain.com
Created: 2009-07-05 02:20:57
Expires: 2010-07-05 02:20:57
Last Modified: 2009-07-05 02:19:13
Registrant Contact:
Whoisprotection.cc
Domain Admin (reg_460128@whoisprotection.cc)
Lot 2-1, Incubator 1, Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia 57000
P: +603.89966788 F: +603.0
Administrative Contact:
Whoisprotection.cc
Domain Admin (adm_460128@whoisprotection.cc)
Lot 2-1, Incubator 1, Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia 57000
P: +603.89966788 F: +603.0
Technical Contact:
Whoisprotection.cc
Domain Admin (tec_460128@whoisprotection.cc)
Lot 2-1, Incubator 1, Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia 57000
P: +603.89966788 F: +603.0
Billing Contact:
Whoisprotection.cc
Domain Admin (bil_460128@whoisprotection.cc)
Lot 2-1, Incubator 1, Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia 57000
P: +603.89966788 F: +603.0
The previous information has been obtained either directly from the registrant or a registrar of the domain name other than Network Solutions. Network Solutions, therefore, does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Show underlying registry data for this record
Current Registrar: WEB COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED DBA WEBNIC.CC
IP Address: 124.217.231.209 (ARIN & RIPE IP search)
IP Location: MY(MALAYSIA)-WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN-KUALA LUMPUR
Record Type: Domain Name
Server Type: Other 1
Lock Status: clientDeleteProhibited
WebSite Status: Active
DMOZ no listings
Y! Directory: see listings
WebSite Title: Macez | Domain Appraisal Experts
Secure: No
Ecommerce: No
Traffic Ranking: Not available
Data as of: 22-Apr-2008
Gary
* Info removed at posters request. Incorrect data was posted and cleared up as stated above.
Savas
Here is my answer to this scammer:
Mark,
Thank you for contacting us. We are willing to sell you our domain. We made an apparisal at macez.com, the site gave us the value of one million US$.
Please send 700 tousand dollars to our paypal asshole!!!
Margaret
To Gary in Post 33:
Impact Technologies, Inc. is NOT Macez. I thought your phone call yesterday was suspicious, so I did my own research and came up with the domain appraisal scam and also gbstelecom.com.
Impact Technologies is not part of this scam. We have an old product called Mac-Ez from the 1990s, which we don’t even really sell any more, and we do NOTHING with domain appraisals. If you want to see what our legitimate telecommunications company is about, please visit http://www.impacttech.com.
Or, if you want to speak with someone in our customer service, just call the number that I confirmed yesterday and we’d be happy to answer your questions.
One more thing, because I’m curious… How did you come up with our phone number? I tried doing a search of “macez” and “phone number” and ours definitely did not come up.
Sorry for all of this confusion, but I hope that you all know now that we are not part of this scam.
GARY
Hi Margaret,
I never made any conclusion, only posted the information you gave me and according to the ARIN WHOIS report. On another note, you did confirm with me by telephone that at one point your company had been or was involved in domian appraisal an or registration. You stated that your company had a product called “macez” or Mac-EZ as you have stated. Check my post at #32. Run your own “whois” on MACEZ, with network solutions, under the section Y! Directory listing, click it. Your companies information is found there. Since your company information is located in one part of the “WHOIS” database (which is not so much a part of the record, but more a part of a feature Network Solutions offers as part of the record) I posted the information. You can check network solutions by going to http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/macez.com and click on the Y! Directory listng. Thank you for clearing that up. In regard to the actual record for macez.com it is “protected” by a third party registrar. The information for that company can be found by contacting the third party company and explaining the fraudulent activity, and/or submitting a request to ICAAN explaining the situation.
AGF
True. I searched for the mail addrees and got to your site. thnks for the info>
Sergio
I received the Paul White version last week too. I’ve been getting some version of these appraisal scam emails since around 2005, hard to believe it is still going around after all this time!
Nestor
Got one from the markallen38, figured it was something like that. Google doesn’t give results for email addresses for a few years now probably to stop e-stalking, but searching for markallen38 gave me your site
Arman
Got one in my inbox too. I went to the appraisal site and quickly feel that this guy is just trying to make me spend money. A little googling and here I am …
someguy
Isn’t this kind of fraud a criminal offense? Do I need to purchase that appraisal from them in order to file charges immediately afterwards?
Gary
re: Fraud
Isn’t all spam mail now a crime?
mobiliario
This is a really good discussion! It is interesting that it has spanned over a few years and is still relevant. Thanks for the viewpoints – Happy 2010!