How to spot a dropped domain

[m42]

archive.org is your friend. Use it to determine whether or not the site or link you wish to purchase has recently been dropped.

Look at the backlinks and see if they match the current content.

Use a PR validation tool such as www.validrank.com

What steps do you take to avoid getting conned in this area?

[Jose Cuervo]

Just check the creation date in the WHOIS record. You can use www.whois.sc.

When a domain is dropped, it's creation date is reset. So if you see a domain name with PR that's only a few days old, it's definitely a dropped domain.

[2mymall]

Good Post.

Another good site would be:

http://www.archive.org/web/web.php

[Jacob34]

Thank you miss m42 have been useing it for a bit but not that way!