Domain Registration Scam — Part II
Domain Registry Scam — Page 1, Page 2
This alert was brought to my attention by a business colleague, Ross Easton of A&R Enterprise.
Please read carefully any domain name expiration notices you receive in the post from
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Domain Registry of America
Suite 526
56 Gloucester Road
London
SW7 4UB
England
Lured Away Current Domain Registrar
Again, what this company is attempting is not illegal but it is yet another attempt to lure you from your current domain registrar. In fairness, they have cleaned up their act from their earlier batch of renewal notices, no doubt taking heed of the current round of sanctions against miscreant companies whose intent is to deceive and prey upon fear in an attempt to gain market share in this lucrative area. Their preface is basically up-front:
As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months. When you switch today to the Domain Registry of America, you can take advantage of our best savings. Your registration for: yourdomain.com will expire on renewal date. Act today!
You must renew your domain name to retain exclusive rights to it on the Web, and now is the time to transfer and renew your name from your current Registrar to the Domain Registry of America. Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web.
Privatization of Domain Registrations and Renewals now allows the customer the choice of Registrars when initially registering and also when renewing a domain name. Domain name holders are not obliged to renew their domain name with their current Registrar or with the Domain Registry of America ... This notice is not a bill, it is rather an easy means of payment should you decide to switch your domain name registration to the Domain Registry of America.
Similarly, nothing in the content is either fraudulent or illegal — but their fees are, to say the least, excessive, somewhere in the region of 4 times what I'd pay for a .com, .net or .org domain.
Always check with your existing registration agent - 123reg, godaddy, whomever - your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or hosting company whenever you receive domain renewal requests.
Domain Registry Scam — Page 1, Page 2
