Even the best research and preparation cannot insure that you won’t be scammed when buying a website or domain. The rule of thumb we always follow when buying a domain or a website with escrow is:

1. Pay a deposit that is NO MORE THAN 1/2 the asking price of the domain or website.

2. If it is a website, the deposit should be sufficient for a domain transfer. Remember, the domain is usually the valuable piece, especially if it has traffic. In addition, it’s so easy for websites to be copied that you don’t want the website’s files as they could just be a hack of the real thing.

3. Once the domain has been transferred, a 2nd (and final) payment should secure the files for a website purchase, or seal the deal on a domain purchase.

Our rational in this division is that an initial deposit buys you the online real estate’s foundation that you can easily build upon. If you only receive the files, then you are still missing out on the domain and the traffic that was promised through the domain.