A Scam Story
I won’t take up a lot of your time here, just a quick story. I told you before that one of my side projects is flipping domains and websites. You can read all about that particular scam in the previous link. So, here is what happened most recently.
The short version for your time saving efforts. 🙂 Sold a website through Digital Point forums. I have sold numerous websites there before, so it’s not as if it was my first try at driving the truck.
Sale went through without a hitch. I began the transfer process of domain name and site once I received payment via PayPal. Steady as we go right? Wrong!
Next day I receive an email form PayPal that the funds have been held due to an unauthorized transaction claim submitted.
Now, two things go through my mind here. This guy who bought the website does this all the time….waits for domain name transfer to begin then reverses PP funds. Or….the buyer hacked someone else’s PP and used their funds to buy my website.
Next, I get an email from said “victim” that his PP was used for a purchase he had no clue about. Yeah okay, is what I said to myself.
Now I go to Digital Point and check the user profile of the buyer…WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE…..and see SEVERAL people claiming he is a scammer and that he reverses PP funds after transfer; they have all lost money and their domains/websites.
Why I didn’t check this in the first place I will never know. Sometimes when the money is rolling in, we lose our minds momentarily.
Well, I don’t take being scammed lying down that’s for sure. I filed a complaint with GoDaddy, PayPal and the IC3 (Internet crime complaints.) Too much? I don’t think so. For the simple reason, how long will we let these forum scammers get away with their deeds?
I am still waiting to hear form PayPal…I think I will lose that battle. I did hear from GoDaddy and with a little identification…I got my website back. HA! I also emailed the moderators of Digital Point asking why this user has not been banned yet…..NO response and he is still active.
So, if you are in forums attempting to buy or sell….beware of this user name “hokabura.” I still have no idea if he hacked some one’s PP or if he is the PP user and reverses funds all the time.
Best tip I have for you….NEVER do business with someone who has a negative iTrader or feedback rating. Do your due diligence when researching potential buyers and sellers. Don’t go all crazy but follow this rule; trust but validate.
Specifically with Digital Point, forum scammers are a dime a dozen and I see many advertisers who won’t even do business with someone unless they have a 10+ trader rating. Maybe they have the right idea here.
The bottom line is that forum scammers are only one piece of the pie….scammers are lurking everywhere so be aware.
Have you been scammed in online business? How so?
Wow Lisa, sorry that happened to you. I’m glad they didn’t get your site though so that’s a good thing.
I was talking to a friend of mine today and she just found out her blog has been scraped. Boy, she was pissed and is immediately writing a post to out the jerk and put a disclaimer on the bottom of each post now. How the heck does that even happen? I had no idea, talk about out of the loop.
I do hope that at least Digital Point will ban this user as well as their IP if they want to hold their reputation in tact. I can’t believe there are still those kinds of people out there but I guess we’ll never get rid of dishonesty. What a shame.
Adrienne
Hi adrienne:
Yea, it’s complete BS!!! I think I am out the cash, but at least I have my site back!
Adrienne,
To chime in, I don’t think DigitalPoint will do anything about it. I’ve sent complaints before with no response whatsoever – so… :/
When you read the forum threads, there are scams everywhere. The best way you can do is what Lisa has suggested in her blog post – check the reputation of the DP member.