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Epik sued over financial meltdown
Kevin Murphy,
April 3, 2023, 18:38:15 (UTC),
Domain Registrars
Domain registrar Epik has been sued by a customer who says he is owed $327,000 over an aborted secondary market purchase.
Matthew Adkisson says he paid the sum to Epik to buy the domain nourish.com from a third-party seller, with Epik paid $27,000 for its escrow service.
However, Adkisson alleges, the sale fell through and when he asked Epik for his money back he was given the runaround for months.
His lawsuit describes a scheme whereby Epik, former CEO Rob Monster and current CEO Brian Royce were using supposedly escrowed funds for general corporate — and possibly even personal — purposes.
There are even alleged Ponzi-like elements, with funds from new customers being used to pay off debts to former customers.
The suit describes it as a “widespread and illegal fraudulent scheme — replete with misrepresentations, embezzlement, and misappropriation”.
Similar complaints of this nature have been made against Epik for months, with many buyers and sellers struggling to get paid.
The suit, which suggests it believes some of Epik’s actions may have been criminal, lists eight counts including breach of contract, fraud and racketeering. Adkisson wants his money back, as well as unspecified damages.
You can read the complaint here (pdf). Hat tip to John Berryhill.
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