Domain name scam

daveyjoe

I just got a call from a client. I created a website for him about 5 years ago. I let him in charge of the domain name.

When the time came to renew it, he forgot about it. It's subsequesntly been in the hands of some group who we're displaying porn on it. He was a bit pissed off but there's nothing I could do about it, I explained the situation and he said fair enough.

I got another call from him a few hours ago, he said a lady from "evoloution domains" http://www.evolutiondomains.co.uk/ had rang him, saying that she got an offer of £500(Sterling) on the domain from a "P O'Neil". She said that she was obliged to notify him of the offer. She asked him how long he was in business and if the name was well established, she then told him to seek legal advice if he was interested in getting the domain name back.

This was obviously a scam, the interesting thing was that she told him to seek legal advice if he wanted the domain name back.

The domain is in the redemption period which means that the domain will stay in that state for 30 days until it is released back into the wild.

I advised him to wait until the redemption period is over and try and purchase it then if it is not renewed.

I have a few questions... Has anybody ever come across/heard of this scam? Wh did she advice him to seek legal advice over the matter? Is it likely that the current owners of the domain will let the domain go or will they re-register it?

seamus

daveyjoe wrote:

I have a few questions... Has anybody ever come across/heard of this scam? Wh did she advice him to seek legal advice over the matter? Is it likely that the current owners of the domain will let the domain go or will they re-register it?

Yeah, it's a pretty common one. Basically these bloodsuckers keep an eye out for any domains that have entered their redemption period, and then contact the owner claiming to be in possession of the domain name, and demanding stupid amounts of money to get it back.

Clearly they don't own the domain, but once the redemption period has expired they'll register it anyway* and then they will be in possession and will still charge the massive amounts of money.

The existing owners pulled the same scam. They generally register expired domains for just a year, and then let them go if no-one wants them. The object of course to extract money from people who failed to renew the domain.

If your mate told her that yes he wants his domain back, he's probably screwed. Best thing is to feign disinterest. Tell them you've rebranded or no longer want the domain name and they won't bother registering it. By telling them that you want it, they'll register it for the sole purpose of blackmailing you for it.

* In theory you could get in there before them and register the domain name as soon as it expires, but most of these scammers have big reseller accounts and can pretty much register a domain the instant it expires, leaving you with little or no chance.

richardo

Surely if the domain is still in redemption, the client can get it back?

I had a call from a client this morning to say their site was 'gone'. Like yourself, they were handling the domain and had let it expire. I told 'em to get straight on to their registrars and get it out of redemption, which they did. The site is now back.

How long is it since the domain expired?

daveyjoe

He told her that he'd look into it and may have come across semi-interested. I'm not sure if she will ring him back. Is it worth getting him to ring her back and telling her that he's not interested in it.

daveyjoe

richardo wrote:

Surely if the domain is still in redemption, the client can get it back?

I had a call from a client this morning to say their site was 'gone'. Like yourself, they were handling the domain and had let it expire. I told 'em to get straight on to their registrars and get it out of redemption, which they did. The site is now back.

How long is it since the domain expired?

It had been taken over by a group displaying porn on it previously, they we're the last owners of the domain not my client. He would like the domain back just so that he could use it for e-mail.

fintan

Out of curiosity what is the proceedure for buying a domain name in the redemption period?

Do you have to wait 30 days from the expiration date plus 5 days for deletion?

Is it available from the clock strikes mid-night? If so whch time zone? any pointers etc

seamus

fintan wrote:

Out of curiosity what is the proceedure for buying a domain name in the redemption period?

Do you have to wait 30 days from the expiration date plus 5 days for deletion?

Is it available from the clock strikes mid-night? If so whch time zone? any pointers etc

During the redemption period, only the owner of the domain can get it out of redemption. For certain TLDs, the registry have set no limit or guidelines in terms of fees for getting a domain out of redemption, so essentially registrars can charge whatever the hell they like. One company tried to charge us €150 (+ the re-registration fee) to get a .com out of redemption.

You certainly have to wait the full redemption period, and probably the deletion period before it can be re-registered.

Someone else here probably knows exactly, but afaik it only becomes available for registration when the updated WHOIS information is released on the day after the deletion date.

mneylon

If the domain has links to it you probably won't be able to get it, as it will not drop completely - a domainer will grab it using one of the snap services

daveyjoe

blacknight wrote:

If the domain has links to it you probably won't be able to get it, as it will not drop completely - a domainer will grab it using one of the snap services

Yeah there are links to it, including links from the Yahoo! Directory.

Redemption period ends on the 20th by the way.

subway

i got a letter a while back,
cant remember who it was from - binned it right away.
it was about 3 months into my domain ownership anyway.
the letter was from a uk company offering to "keep my domain name safe"
basically i give them my credit card number and they would re-register the domain for me each year.

sounded well dodgy.
especially as my host will renew my domains for me automatically....