Domain Slamming & Other Registrar Scams

Questionable & decptive marketing to get you to buy domains or switch registrars by mistake.

Lookee Here … even in my email.

From a now dead domain name “domainnotice.com”:

DOMAIN NOTICE

Attention: Important Notice

Complete and return by fax to:

1-646-385-7542

47-47 36th Street #16452

Long Island City, NY 11101

United States of America

ATT: REBECCA XXXXX

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT

I NEED AN ANGEL

[EMAIL=MASTER@KENTROPOLIS.COM]MASTER@KENTROPOLIS.COM[/EMAIL]

WWW.INEEDANANGEL.ORG

Domain Name: INEEDANANGEL.ORG

Search Engine Submission

Requested Reply

March 24[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif],2009

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[LEFT]PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION
Attn: REBECCA XXXXX
As a courtesy reminder, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration and save.

Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web.

Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine subscription includes domain name search engine submission. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated below unless you accept this offer. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your customers can locate you on the web.

This Notice for: WWW.INEEDANANGEL.ORG will expire on March 24,2009 Act today!

————————————————————————————————————————–

DETAIL OF SERVICE: ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION FOR DOMAIN NAME WWW.INEEDANANGEL.ORG

Detail of Service:
SEARCH SUBMISSIONS
Reply by Date:
3/24/2009
For Domain Name:
INEEDANANGEL.ORG

*100% SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK

Select [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Term[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Your Existing Domain[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Period Covered[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Price[/SIZE][/FONT] INEEDANANGEL.ORG [ ] 1 year 3/24/2009 – 3/24/2010$75.00 [ ] 2 year 3/24/2009 – 3/24/2011$119.00 [ ] 5 year 3/24/2009 – 3/24/2014$199.00 [ ] 10 year 3/24/2009 – 3/24/2019$295.00 Please ensure that your contact information is correct or make the necessary changes.Full Name: REBECCA XXXXXEmail: MASTER@KENTROPOLIS.COM Today’s Date: _______________________Signature:: _______________________PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BY FAX: 1-646-385-7542

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By accepting this offer, you agree not to hold DN liable for any part. Note that THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated unless you accept this offer. The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged information from the notification processing department of the DN. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. If you do not wish to receive further updates from DN send an email to [EMAIL=wdsrv850@operamail.com]wdsrv850@operamail.com[/EMAIL] to unsubscribe. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents for this letter is strictly prohibited. * 100% satisfaction guaranteed, you may request a refund within 30 days.

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New Domain Sales Scam?

Recently, my clients and I have been receiving emails from China, probably trying to sell alterante top level domains under the guise of protecting your brand. In other words, if you own blahblah.com, they try to sell you blahblah.net by making you think another copmpany will be buying it up.

Note this friendly warning from an “authorized anti-cyber squatting organization” is worded as a “confirmation request” …

[FONT=Tahoma][B]From:[/FONT][/B][FONT=Tahoma] [EMAIL=shannon@ha-zd.org]shannon@ha-zd.org[/EMAIL] [mailto:shannon@ha-zd.org]
[B]Sent:[/B] Sunday, October 12, 2008 11:10 PM
[B]To:[/B] [EMAIL=loupeinfo@eagleoptical.com]loupeinfo@eagleoptical.com[/EMAIL]
[B]Subject:[/B] Eagleoptical domain name registration con firmation request
[B]Importance:[/B] High
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman]Dear Sir or Madam:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman]We received a formal application from a company who is called Saibo Investment Co.,Ltd is applying to register ” eagleoptical” their domain name in Asia as well as in Europe on Oct 10th, 2008. During our auditing procedure we find out that the alleged Saibo Investment Co.,Ltd has no trade mark, brand nor patent even similar to that word. As an authorized anti-cyber squatting organization we hereby suspect the alleged Saibo Investment Co.,Ltd to be a domain grabber. Hence we need your confirmation for two things:[/FONT]

[FONT=’Times New Roman’]First of all, whether this alleged Saibo Investment Co.,Ltd is your business partner or distributor in [/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Secondly, whether you are interested in registering these domains (The alleged Saibo Investment Co.,Ltd will be entitled to obtain a domain not needed by original trademark owner.)[/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]If you are not in charge of this please transfer this email to appropriate dept.[/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]This is a letter for confirmation. If the mentioned third party is your business partner or distributor in China please DO NOT reply. We will automatically confirm application from your business partner after this audit procedure.[/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Best Wishes [/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Shannon[/FONT][FONT=’Times New Roman’] [/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Registration Commissioner [/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Beijing[/FONT][FONT=’Times New Roman’] HUAAO Science and Technology Co., Ltd[/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Tel: +86-10-82772601 [/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Fax: +86-10-82773610 [/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Email:shannon@ha-zd.org[/FONT]
[FONT=’Times New Roman’]Http://www.ha-zd.org

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Domain Registry Support

Formerly “Domain Support Group”, they are sending out warning faxes labelled “FINAL NOTICE OF DOMAIN EXTENSION”

They are not an invoice scam like the DOA used (see previous thread on this or do a Google search). They are trying to sell you — at a rediculously inflated price — the variant of your domain under the “.US” TLD. In other words, if you own mainstreetagency.COM, they will try to trick you through fear and confusion into buying mainstreetagency.US.

The above example is what happened to me. They thought I was the owner and called me for my fax number out of need to send me an urgent notice. I ALMOST gave it to them, but they couldn’t tell me what was such an “important notice” from a company I didn’t already do business with.

They implied they were “THE” authority for domain registry, with direct relationships to all the big registrars, including mine, which they did not name. BUT, they refused to send me any information by email because their “email system is down.” How convenient. They eventually hung up on me after warning me I was missing their earthshatteringly important notice.

The fax one of my clients received is attached; a link to a discussion about this on a forum I am involved with is HERE.

Fax_11412454418014.pdf (43.1 KB)

Likely Registrar Scam

From: Domain Listing Notification [notifyserv205@yahoo.com]

Message Subject: Domain Notification: Ken Stuczynski This is your Final Notice of Domain Listing

Please do NOT reply to this email, this email is not monitored and any replies sent will NOT be delivered, If you wish to register with us you must follow the instructions below

DOMAlN LlSTING CENTER[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8171 Yonge St. Suite# 149
Richmond HiIl, ON L3T 2C6
Canada
NOTlCE (Please make necessary changes)ATT: Ken Stuczynski
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT
Ken Stuczynski
[EMAIL=master@kentropolis.com]master@kentropolis.com[/EMAIL]
P.O. Box 90
West Seneca , NY 14224 – US
www.OTHERFLOCK.org


DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES:
Premium Package

ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION
FROM JAN 1,2006 THRU JAN 1,2007
TOTAL

$40.00
$40.00

SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES:

  • Custom keyword research
  • Optimized title and meta tags
  • Submission to 900 search engines and directories
  • safe follow-up re-submissions every 3 months
  • Helpful professional support

THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amount(s) stated unless you accept this offer.

Domain Name [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]www.OTHERFLOCK.org
Amount
Requested Reply December 21st,2005

THIS NOTICE IS A SOLICITATION AND A RECEIPT OF PAYMENT WILL CONFIRM YOUR ANNUAL SUBMISSION
*100% SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK
[ ] Please select the number of years you would like to signup for
[ ] 1 Year ………. $40
[ ] 2 Years ………. $70
[ ] 5 Years ………. $150 (Recommended)
[ ] 10 Years ………. $200 (Best Value)

Total $ _______

[LEFT]

________________________________
Signature

________________________________
Date

Payment by Check or Money Order
Print and mail a copy of this order form along with a check or money order to the address listed below:
Domain Listing Center Inc.
8171 Yonge St. Suite# 149
Richmond Hill, ON L3T 2C6
Canada


www.OTHERFLOCK.org

By accepting this offer, you agree not to hold DLC liable for any part. Note that THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated unless you accept this offer. The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged information from the notification processing department of the Domain Listing Center Inc. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. Email [EMAIL=domainlistingcenter@hotmail.com]domainlistingcenter@hotmail.com[/EMAIL] if you do not want to receive further updates from DLC. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents for this letter is strictly prohibited.

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* 100% satisfaction guaranteed, you may request a refund within 30 days if your are not satisfied with our services.

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Yes, they are honest as required by law to make clear it isn’t an invoice.

But no, they have no contact information except a place to mail payment.

Lesson to be learned?

NEVER do business with a company using the Internet unless they have verifyable contact information. If they ask you to print off and mail instead of using two way communication (phone, email, etc.), with rarest of exceptions, they are fly-by-night.

Domain Registry Of America / Liberty Names of America

As I’ve warned customers in the past, DO NOT make a payment to renew your domain name through the Domain Registry of America, or ANYONE ELSE for that matter. The letter you received is trying to get you to switch services to them, NOT a bill to protect you from losing your domain name. They are not your provider, but you may mistakenly think they are.

They are under investigation by the FTC and have lost a couple of court battles over this practice of theirs.

A letter I just emailed their sales staff:

Listen up you Scam-holes:

One of my clients (a LAW PROFESSIONAL’S ORGANIZATION) almost switched to you by mistake, until I alerted them to your scam.* I used to getting your crap in my PO Box, but tired of you targeting my clients.* Your bull about not intentionally scamming obviously doesn’t hold water when reasonable people (under definition of law) are misled.

I will be posting information on your scam shortly on our consumer education site, www.GeeksBearingGifts.com, and there’s not a damn thing you’re going to do about it.* Consider yourself served.

Ken Stuczynski
Owner / Lead Web Developer
[EMAIL=master@Kentropolis.com]master@Kentropolis.com[/EMAIL]

KENTROPOLIS INTERNET COMMUNITY
http://www.KENTROPOLIS.com
(716) 8xx-1329 / Toll Free 1-866-854-1923
/ PO Box 90, West Seneca, NY 14224 USA