I have been wondering if this strategy is legal. If it isn't, how could it be changed to make it legal? Any advice would be appreciated. "1. Look in the yellow pages. Find a business that already has a website. 2. Call them up and ask if they have a website you can visit (to make sure). 4. If they do, then purchase a domain name that sounds like their business. So if their site is www.FishingBait.com register www.BestFishingBait.com 5. Point it to one of their competitor's websites. 6. Call them up and ask for the manager or owner. For larger companies ask for the advertising department. 7. Tell them to go to the website. They will see their competitor. 8. Now tell them that you can get the domain name for them! 9. They will be ecstatic. They will probably ask. How much? and How is this possible? Tell them that you own the domain name and that their competitor is very rude and you find it difficult to work with them. Now offer the domain name to them for just $50 USD. 10. They will most likely purchase it. Point it to their site. BAM! $40 profit for you. If they refuse, point the domain to their site and go to their competitor. This works because they think they are taking business away from their competitors and getting it for themselves. You can scale this up insanely, there are literally thousands of businesses out there. You can even outsource it if you choose."
posted the same thing at dnforum and it's generating some negative http://www.dnforum.com/f26/legality-strategy-thread-462334.html
Sounds legal as long as there is no trademark as iggysick said, but to me you have to include not only the cost of the domain name but also the phone calls and your time speaking to people, the ones who can take decision and pay. That's a lot of trouble for me. Of course you can set up a company and have people doing it for you. But then you have to add their salary, and dealing with all those people, honestly too much hassle for me. But I don't think it is illegal, just not worth it in my opinion (of a lazy guy who doesn't know much about legality anyway)
right now I'm just trying to figure out if it is legal. If it is, then I'll give the method a shot to determine if the profit is worth the time investment.
Whether it is legal or not is irrelevant. The real question is "Will you get sued". The answer to that is "Yes".
You're a total idiot, honestly. What makes you think anyone will ever pay for a domain that violates the law? Let me finish that sentence, 9. They will be ecstatic.... TO SUE YOU! Instead of finding ways to defraud businesses, find a way to add value.