* * * * *

  It might help your case if you actually owned the item before selling it …

This just landed in my email:

> From: Dan Johnson <[email protected] [1]>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: XXXXXXXXXX.com for the owner of XXXXXXXXXX.org
> Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:02:38 -0600 (CST)
>
> Hi,
>
> The domain XXXXXXXXXX.com has recently become available for us so we are
> offering it to you, because you are the owner of its .org version.
>
> Domain Guard System is intended to assist our clients with their promotion
> on the Internet. We use many methods to increase the effectiveness of a
> client's presence on the Web. Securing .com domains for anyone using
> another extension for their site is one of them.
>
> There are several reasons why owning a .com is of great importance for any
> domain holder:
>
> * It's in the essense of Internet: .com is most popular and widely used,
>   and the typical user usually supposes that he/she will find you at
>   XXXXXXXXXX.com.
>
> * A lot of companies and organizations who use other extensions as primary
>   (.net for Web services or private sites, .org for non-profit
>   organizations etc.) are securing .coms not to lose the visitors who are
>   seeking them there.
>
> * With .com, you will be free to use both your .org and .com so you will
>   only gain visitors.
>
> * By owning the .com, you will be sure to stay #1 in your own name space.
>
>
> If you are interested in this domain, please act quickly, as we soon intend
> to bring it to the auction where the acquisition cost will be higher than
> now.
>
> Please use the link below to discover the current cost of the domain, read
> more about the advantages of owning a .com and get information on the
> details of the purchase and domain transfer procedure:
>
> Secure XXXXXXXXXX.com now!
>
> [link deleted —Editor]
>
> Best regards,
>  Dan Johnson
>  Domain Guard System
>  mailto: [email protected] [2]
>

Oh really?

I decided to see if they had a parked page on XXXXXXXXXX.com and no, no
website. Heck, there didn't appear to be any DNS (Domain Name System)
information for the XXXXXXXXXX.com domain. I checked to see of the domain in
question was even registered, and well …

> [spc]lucy:~>whois XXXXXXXXXX.com
> [Querying whois.internic.net]
> [whois.internic.net]
>
> Whois Server Version 2.0
>
> Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
> with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
> for detailed information.
>
> No match for domain "XXXXXXXXXX.COM".
> >>> Last update of whois database: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:25:08 EST <<<
>

Now it's getting interesting. Let me check with my registrar to see if I can
register XXXXXXXXXX.com … well, how do you like that? It's available! I can
register it right now for $15.95 (yes, I know, not the cheapest registrar out
there, but I've been using them for years now and never had a problem with
them, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it).

So, how much is Domain Guard System asking for it?

> **Here's How To Buy**
>
> The price for **XXXXXXXXXX.com** is: **$99.00**
>
> Please click on the **“PayPal—Click Here To Buy”** button below to make
> payment via PayPal.
>
> Payments made through PayPal are Safe and Secure. You can pay by credit and
> debit card, or using your PayPal account. Please note, that the credit card
> information you submit is only viewable for PayPal.com and not for us.
>
> The refund will be issued on your payment in case of any problems with the
> domain transfer.
>
> Once paid, your domain name information will be delivered to your email
> address in next 15 to 30 minutes.
>
> Please read our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) [3] if you have more
> questions concerning purchase procedure and further domain management.
>

$99? And Domain Guard System isn't even squatting on it?

Sometimes I think I'm in the wrong business.

[1] mailto:[email protected]
[2] mailto:[email protected]
[3] http://www.domainguardsystem.com/domain_faq.php

Email author at [email protected]