"Someone would like to contact you about your domain." (1.Viewing)

So I got this email below from GoDaddy a couple days ago.

It involves someone trying to contact me directly (via email) about a .ORG domain I own which has privacy on. I find this interesting given the language GD uses in the email, but also because it's the first time I get this kind of email (from what I remember).

I always knew there was a way to contact a domain owner when the privacy is on but didn't know what the exact procedure was or what it would look like. I'm sure some of the veterans here have seen this type of email before but I thought I would share for those who haven't seen it. Note how you wouldn't get this "exact" type of email from a registrar for .CAs since CIRA has it's own contact form to contact .CA owners directly via email (when your info is private).

I removed the domain in question and the email address they provided (in the email below) as I don't want this post to link back to me here in case there is something shady behind this.

Someone is trying to contact you regarding [example].org.

We received a request from someone who'd like to contact you regarding [example].org, which you registered through GoDaddy. This contact method is designed to provide a way for people who are interested in your domain to reach you, while still keeping your contact information private.

We're required by ICANN regulations to forward these types of requests to you, and you're not under any obligation to respond.

Remember, we have no information on the legitimacy of these contacts, and scammers have been known to try to pose as GoDaddy or other companies. Use caution when viewing or replying to unsolicited messages from third parties. If you determine you would like to respond to this message, please be aware that you are electing to respond directly to a third party that has no affiliation with GoDaddy.

Here is the message from example@gmail.com. Once again, this is NOT from a GoDaddy representative. GoDaddy does not authorize or verify any offers to sell or purchase domains via email.

I would like to contact you regarding your domain and/or content on your website.

If you would like to respond to the requester, please email them at example@gmail.com.

If you are interested in selling your domain, the safest course of action would be to list the domain for sale, then email the inquirer that you have listed it for sale. To list your domain for sale, please visit this Help article for step-by-step instructions.

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My question is: do you guys think I should respond via email?

I'm a little skeptical since the domain is already listed in a few places where they could have simply submitted an offer to start. I've already looked into potential TM issues and there are none. The language GD uses also makes the whole email seem like "BE VERY CAREFUL YOU MIGHT BE GETTING SCAMMED." GD is essentially encouraging me not to respond if you read the last paragraph too... but maybe thats more about the commission they want to make?

I also question whether the email address they are using is real or just a bogus email they recently created solely for the purpose of contacting me. There are 0 google results when you search the gmail address they provided.

So do I respond? Aside from them trying to get me to sell for cheap, perhaps they want to chat via email because I do own both the singular and plural of this .ORG domain.... so "maybe" they want to work out a deal for both domains? And maybe they aren't using a GD broker for this so we can both avoid commission? Or are they simply trying to get my personal email to try and hack my sh*t or something?! lol

In any event, I still doubt the legitimacy of this whole thing because of the comment the person provided GD:

"I would like to contact you regarding your domain and/or content on your website."

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Why would they say "your domain and/or content on your website" when I'm using a sales lander and there is no website with content? This seems like very generic language and not specifically addressed to me.

It the registrar is godaddy then it is legit, I have received similar.

I just ignored mine because the domain pointed to my lander which clearly showed my contact information so I figured if the person inquiring was really that ignorant about domains the chances of getting a reasonable offer was probably nil.

Esdiel said:

We're required by ICANN regulations to forward these types of requests to you, and you're not under any obligation to respond.

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Like [notify]MapleDots[/notify] said, if your domain is at GoDaddy, then this is legit.

The quoted line above is the key wording. GoDaddy would love to be contacting you and claim a commission, but because the domain is under privacy, they're obligated to forward the message commission free. But they're going to do their best to make it sound shady so that maybe you're afraid to cut GoDaddy out of the loop. That's my take on it.

So maybe the buyer is savvy enough to avoid a broker commission that's going to jack his ultimate price, that's why he's trying to contact you directly.

If it were me, I'd reply - especially if you know you have no concerns about trademarks. And even then, if you have no ads up and the domain isn't a blatantly well known trademark like "BurgerKing" or something, then you really have zero concerns.

I've gotten these types of emails via GoDaddy as well but they turned out to be appraisal scams if you reply to them

Like the email says, GoDaddy is required to pass on these emails, but it doesn't automatically make them legit

Spex said:

Like the email says, GoDaddy is required to pass on these emails, but it doesn't automatically make them legit

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But it doesn't necessarily make them a scam either. If you selling a domain through a marketplace that takes a hefty commission, I would go around them and try to contact you directly the same way...

So either reply and find out, or hope they are ultimately willing to pay via the marketplace. Personally, I don't have a problem with a quick reply, then you'll know soon enough. And you have a better chance of knowing who the buyer is rather than going through a broker.

Thanks guys.

I knew the GD email address itself was legit. I just meant the email address of the person trying to contact me looked odd (it's unnecessarily long and the name seems fake).

Anyway, I did shoot them an email but no response yet. I will let you guys know if anything interesting comes of it.

Any of you guys know why GD brokers try to contact the registrar to inquire about domain names? Rather than simply contacting the owner directly…?

theinvestor said:

Any of you guys know why GD brokers try to contact the registrar to inquire about domain names? Rather than simply contacting the owner directly…?

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Weird. Never seen that myself. I'm assuming your whois isn't private or you at least have a contact form accessible from the domain name website? Otherwise I can see how the average GD broker may not be aware of the CIRA contact form, so the only other option they can think of is to contact the registrar?