Comments on: SnapNames Discloses Epic Fraud By halvarez

By: pitbullstew

pitbullstew — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:57:55 +0000

no fraud here folks keep moving, thats right nothing to see here, keep moving, keep moving…
> Our File Number: FF++++-09
> Complaint About: Snapnames.com Inc.
>
>
> Thank you for the information that you sent us. Although there does not now appear to be a need for an investigation or legal action, we will keep your information on file as part of the public record.
>
> Our primary goal is to identify and eliminate the most serious marketplace violations, and many factors are considered in determining what cases we should pursue.
>
> We appreciate the time that you took to alert us to a possible problem in the marketplace. Your information may prove to be valuable in a future enforcement action.
>
> If you need to contact us about your complaint, please write to me and note your file number: FF++++-09, or contact me by phone at 503-934-4400 or e-mail at mailto:heather.j.mcfarlanemartinez@state.or.us
>
> Heather McFarlane-Martinez
> Enforcement Officer
> Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section
> Oregon Department of Justice

By: Jimbo Jones

Jimbo Jones — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:16 +0000

Are there not any detailed logging files that could lead one to know where the IP address was for most of Halvarez’s bids? Would this type of IP logging not be used for most actions (login, bid, pay, refund, support) and traceable over time to the end-user?

Seems a forensic investigation is in order to really “scrub” the SnapNames systems and uncover the real culprit. If this was in fact fraud, and if the data suggest that SnapNames looked the other way while this was going on, it surely leaves them complicit and seemingly “OK with the bidder’s actions”.

Throwing one person under the bus (Nelson) does little to alleviate the fact that there is much evidence now that does in fact suggest that this was “a conspiracy to commit fraud”.

Being a domainner since 1995, and seeing the industry changes throughout that time, it was evident (consistently lower CPC over time, higher, more competitive bidders in drop, and aftermarket auctions, and the hoarding of domains by registrars) it was the right time a few years ago to sell out…

Warning: If you think this industry will clean it self up because of the SnapNames debacle, think again…this is just the tip of the iceberg, and I expect various “nefarious” anecdotes to surface over the next few months, of registrars, parking companies, or the BIG guys manipulating, and perhaps cheating the smaller guys out of the lions share of the market. I am not making any accusations, but this is probably the largest “black-box” industry going, and to get to the bottom of anything will need the blessing of ICANN, and the justice system – of which neither seem to have given much attention to it so far, as far as I have read…

Good luck domainners!

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:24:40 +0000

Call me a suspicious chap but there may be a good reason snapnames removed auction history: perhaps they knew about the problem way back then.

Here’s a good reason why I suspect they knew: When they were sold to oversee.net, the buying company would have conducted the due diligence. Havlarez would have come up in DD – there’s just so much of talk about him (dating back to 2006). Whoever did the research then would have been aware of this suspicion. If they did not then go and do some internal research on that account they were either lax … or knew exactly who was behind it.

By: Tracie

Tracie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:22:54 +0000

Nelson was a busy man in 2007. Took the time to file a patent application for non other than domain auction services and TASTING.

Filed on: 2007-06-19; Application Number: 11765061; published Dec 2007 Pub Number: 20070299967

It’s an interesting read. Describes the tasting practice to a tee, and discloses some current and perhaps future service offerings SnapNames.

I’m still trying to find the patent application for drop auction shill bidding. I’m sure it’s there somewhere

By: An important message from Snapnames - Page 19 - DNForum - Domain Sales, Domain Forum, Domain Appraisals, Domain Registrars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:15:41 +0000

[...] A link to a VERY interesting blog post. It seems that iReit bought a portfolio of domains from "halvarez" in 2006 – the article quotes: Quote: [...]