Red Flag #1: “This Price Expires in 24 Hours!” (Fake Urgency)

How It Works

Scammers claim “Someone else is interested!” or “Price doubles tomorrow!” to pressure you into overpaying.

Scenario (Imaginative)

  • Domain: AIStartup2025.com
  • Seller’s Claim: “Last chance to buy at $15,000!”
  • Reality: Still unsold after 6 months (and very likely it won’t sell at all)

How to Verify

  • Check Wayback Machine: If the domain has been listed for years, urgency is fake.
  • Use NameBio: Compare prices to similar sold domains.

Red Flag #2: Bot Appraisals Quoted as “Expert Opinions”

How It Works

Sellers cite tools like Estibot or GoDaddy Appraisals to justify inflated prices.

Scenario (Imaginative)

  • Domain: BestCheapPhonesOnlineStore.com
  • Bot Appraisal: $12,000 (GoDaddy)
  • Reality: Maybe sold for $20? If it is ever sold……

How to Verify the potential value

  • Ignore bot tools. Check human marketplaces like Sedo.

Red Flag #3: Trademark-Infringing Names (Cybersquatting)

How It Works

Domains like TeslaEVTrucks.net or ChatGPT5.plumbing target brands to extort buyers.

How to Verify

  • Search USPTO for trademarks.
  • Avoid names resembling brands, even misspelled (FacebokDeals.com).

Red Flag #4: Overly Long or Gibberish Names

How It Works

Scammers push 20+ character domains (LuxuryCarDeals2024.net) as “premium.”

Rule of Thumb

  • Ideal length: ≤12 characters.
  • Avoid: Numbers, hyphens, or nonsense (Zxqty2024.com).

Red Flag #5: No Ownership History or Hidden WHOIS

How It Works

Sellers hide behind WHOIS privacy to mask shady pasts (e.g., domains used for spam).

How to Verify

  • Avoid domains with frequent ownership changes.

Note: Transferring a domain from Registrar A to Registrar B (in order to renew the domain for another year) may likely be cheaper then renewing at the current registrar. Therefore, you are advised not to solely rely on this metrics to measure the trustworthiness of the owner.

Red Flag #6: “Instant ROI” Claims

How It Works

Scammers promise “Flip this domain for 10x profit!” or “Guaranteed resale value!”

Reality Check

  • Domains aren’t stocks. No ROI is guaranteed.
  • Legitimate sellers provide sales comps, not fantasies.

Red Flag #7: Pressure to Use “Preferred” Brokers

How It Works

Scammers insist you hire their “trusted agent” (who gets a kickback).

How to Verify

  • Use neutral middlemen like Saw.com or Escrow.com.
  • Never let the seller choose your broker / agent.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

  • Document Everything: Save emails, listings, and payment receipts.
  • Report to ICANN: File a complaint via their Whois Inaccuracy Form.
  • Submit to ShitBio: [Contact Us] to expose the scam publicly.

How to Stay Safe