Another Domain Scam

IT.com

Jeff

Administrator
Staff member
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Just got this email. Of course, it's a scam, but using very official language. Funnily enough, it comes from a free email address - deen_2008@operamail.com - rather than an email from a legitimate looking site. They are trying to get the recipient to register the .us version of an existing domain. They include your name and address from the whois of your domain, so that it looks like they know who you are. And they charge an incredible $75 per year!

Here's the email:

TITLE: Domain Notification: This is your Final Notice of Domain Listing - [domain].us

Domain Extension Notification

Domain Extensions - United States Country TLD

1905 60th Place E.
Suite F1724
Bradenton, FL 34203
United States of America

Fax: 1 (718) 208-4213

NOTICE

ATT: [Name, Address and Phone Number snipped]

Domain Name: [domain].us Is Now Available for Registration.

Requested Reply: October 30th,2008

Please be advised that the above noted domain name has now become available for registration.

Consequently the possibility of a conflicting domain registration may occur.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES LEGAL CODE

TITLE 15, Sec 1125. False descriptions, and dilution of Trademarks and the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)

Be advised: Protecting a domain name registrant or trademark owner
from confusing and/or conflicting domain name registrations is not the
responsibility of the domain and trademark registration processes. In
the event of a registration of the above noted domain by a third
party, the UDRP may be applied under the following conditions.

Evidence of Registration and Use in Bad Faith. - For the purposes of
Paragraph 4(a)(iii), the following circumstances, in particular but
without limitation, if found by the Panel to be present, shall be
evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith:

(i) circumstances indicating that the domain name registered or
acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling,
renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the
complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or a
competitor of that complainant, for valuable consideration in excess
of your documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain
name; or

(ii) the domain name has been registered in order to prevent the owner
of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a
corresponding domain name, provided that you have engaged in a pattern
of such conduct; or

(iii) the domain name has been registered primarily for the purpose of
disrupting the business of a competitor; or (iv) by using the domain
name, registrant has intentionally attempted to attract, for
commercial gain, Internet users to their web site or other on-line
location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's
mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement or
your web site or location or of a product or service of a web site or
location.

In addition to remedies provided for by the URDP, section 4a
(1)(2)(3) & b (1)(2)(3)(4) existing registrants, trademark and service
mark owners are provided by DNNP on domain names that are identical
with new ccTLD, TLD extentions, or domain names that are confusingly
similar to their own.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Note: you may disregard this notice. If you disregard this notice
or fail to reply:

(a) The licensing rights of this domain name may be assigned to any
other applicant who wishes to register it,

(b) DNNP and or any ICANN accredited registrar will not be liable for
loss of domain name license, identical or confusingly similar use of
your company's domain name; or interruption of business activity or
business losses.

If you fail to register this domain it may be
registered by any third party without further notice. Please advise
us of your intent to (a) secure this domain name or (b) to leave this
domain name for Public Registration.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM

This is not a bill, you are under no
obligation to register this domain. Should you wish to
register [domain].us by credit card, we require
your permission to debit your credit card. Please
complete and agree to the following as it applies to you:

I authorize to debit my credit card the amount selected below to register my domain
[domain].us

10 Years for $295.00 (Best Value)

5 Years for $185.00

2 Years for $99.00

1 Years for $75.00

Name: __________________________________
Domain: [domain].us

(as it appears on Credit Card)
Credit Card:



|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|
Visa |___| Mastercard
|___|

Expiry
Date:____/____
CVV/Card Verification # ___________
(Mastercard/Visa
its the final 3 digit number on back of card)


Street Address:
________________________________________________________
City: ______________________



Postal Code: _______________ Telephone
#:_____________________
Email:_________________________________


Today's Date:
_______________________ Signature:
____________________________________


Once you have completed all the required information, please
return it to us by fax 1 (718) 208-4213

B103008FO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally
privileged information from the notification processing department of
the DNNP. This information is intended only for the use of the
individual(s) named above. If you do not wish to receive further updates
from DNNP
go to bitheowner.com/unsubscribe/ 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.
 
Wow...that's really...sad...

I must say that I've gotten similar emails, but they weren't for domains; I have gotten physical mail about moving over my domain names to another registrar for $30 more per year than I am already paying.

It is sad that someone will fall for it, and their whole life could be torn down from fraud (if they provide their credit card number or more personal information).
 
People really go out of their way to make these scams as real as possible, huh? I'm amazed someone toke the time to write that up and then mass send it ;)
 
Just got a similar one:

Clock Qin <clock.qin@hknsc.hk> wrote:
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are Hong Kong Network Service Company Limited which is a domain name
registration center in Asia. We received a formal application from a company
who is applying to register “inforum” as their domain names and
Internet keyword on December 2, 2008. After checking out, we found that this
word has been used by your company, and this may involve your company name or
trade mark, so it's our obligation to inform you this issue on time. If you
think these domain names and the internet keyword are important to you and it
is necessary to protect them by registering them ahead, please contact us
within three business days. Thanks for your co-operation and support.
Kind Regards,

Clock Qin,
Tel: +852-26757930 (ext8026)
Fax: +852- 26757932
Email: clock.qin@hknsc.hk
Hong Kong Network Service Company Limited
website: hknsc.hk

Website:
IP: 123.127.123.243
 
I can see how people might fall for this. The scammers set up a false website for their so-called company.
 
According to Beanstalk-inc.com scammers are introducing a new twist to this domain scam; they are now referencing the financial crisis as a secondary scare tactic:

Meanwhile, it is in the special time of financial crisis. Many companies are registering and protecting their own internet intellectual property right in various methods
 
these ppl are suck.. i dont know why they waisting there time in making such scames

They definitely suck, the main problem is people are following for these tactics daily. I am sure there are thousands of these emails if not more sent out on a daily basis. If they get 1% - 2% of the people to fall for the scam, they have made enough to continue with it.

Unfortunate that these creative minds could not do something better with there time!
 

whois



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