That didn't take long. One of our readers (thanks, Amber) alerted us to the fact that, by last night, grief profiteers were already auctioning Virginia Tech domain names on eBay. In the wake of the tragedy, people rushed to register sites through big services like GoDaddy. Some of the names chosen were, well, less than sensitive. Take vatechbloodbath.com registered through GoDaddy to Steve Taylor of Modesto, Calif. Nice work, Steve.
But at least Taylor's not selling his domain on eBay. At least not yet. We did a quick search this morning and found some other people who are. And some of them are asking exorbitant prices. Here are a few of the savvy and shameless entrepreneurs:
vtechkilling.com
Registrant: Jason Berlinsky of Morristown, New Jersey
Registrar: Moniker Online Services, Inc.
Starting bid: $0.01
Buy It Now: $500
Bids: 0
Vtechkilling.com is registered through 2008. It is "a perfect domain name for any memorandum or other site dedicated to the recent mass killing of students at Virginia Tech." The eBay description has a visual "memorandum" of an assault rifle. Berlinsky has a 100 percent positive feedback rating.virginiatechkiller.com and viriginatechstudentmemorial.com
Registrant: Lewis Dennison of Southfield, Michigan
Registrar: GoDaddy
Starting Bids: $99.96
Bids: 0
--Both listings feature an American flag waving in the breeze. Selling under the handle "groovybluedragon," Dennison has a 99.5 percent positive feedback rating.Virginia-tech-rampage.com
Registrant: Matt Owens of Jackson, Michigan
Registrar: Melbourne IT
Starting Bid: $1,000
Buy It Now: $10,000
Bids: 0
According to Owens, www.virginia-tech-rampage.com is a "great domain name for development! Make a [sic] offer!" In his description, Owens includes a rather disturbing photo-shopped image of a comely angel in what appears to be lingerie. She is hovering next to a cross. Owens has a 100 percent positive feedback rating.vatechvictimsfund.com and vatechhelp.com
Registrant: Rory Klinge, possibly of Greenport, New York
Registrar: Melbourne IT
Starting Bid: $5,000
Buy It Now: $10,000
Bids: 0
Klinge's apparent sense of charity also apparently encompasses his own well-being. Feedback rating? 100 percent positive.virginiatechlawsuits.com, vatechlawsuits.com, vatechlawsuit.com, vatechlawsuit.info, vatechlawsuits.info, virginiatechlawsuits.info
Registrant: Proxy, Inc. (a anonymous registrant service)
Registrar: GoDaddy
Starting Bid: $417,007
Buy It Now: $500,000
Bids: 0
This mystery profiteer hopes to corner the legal angle on the tragedy. "Unfortunatly [sic], we know that this is coming," he writes in his description. "Lawyers will jump on this thing real quick!...These domain names will be good for years to come; we all know how long a lawsuit takes." A clue to this seller's identity: mbradley005 in Sterling, Virginia.vamassacre.com, massacreofvatech.com, massacreofvtech.com, vatechcarnage.com, vetechkillings.com
Registrant: Sam Zade, possibly of Feasterville, Pennsylvania
Registrar: GoDaddy
Starting Bid: Not listed
But It Now: $100,000
Bids: 0
Zade starts his pitch by telling potential buyers that these are "Great Domain Names for a Memorial Fund Development." Perhaps realizing that people might not see it that way (perhaps not), Zade later promises that "10% will be donated to the victims [sic] families. Our Hearts go out to all the victims and families of Virginia Tech Massacre!" He has two large American flags on his listing. 100 percent positive rating.
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Update: It looks like eBay has begun pulling down the listings.
