Domain Name Scam Cleverly Disguised

By admin

There are plenty of domain name scams out there, ones that pretend they are your registrar, but fool you into transferring your domain to them, others that try to get you to register other extensions (See Chinese Domain Name Scams)

This one is a little difference, in that by using words like: Domain, Register, Renewal, Expire they try to look like a domain name renewal notice, but in fact they are selling \”Website Search Engine Submission\”

At USD $75 per year or a great deal at $295 for 10 years, it is preying on thos ebuisness owners that see the trigger words and reach for the credit card.

Don\’t be fooled.

Here is the transcript received by one of my clients:

Attention: Important Notice

DOMAIN SERVICE 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: CUSTOMER NAME
  ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT
COMPANY NAME
COMPANY EMAIL
Address Details Here
  WWW.COMPANYNAME.COM


  Domain Name: COMPANYNAME.COM
Search Engine Submission

  Requested Reply
August 18,2009

PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION
Attn: CUSTOMER NAME
As a courtesy to domain name holders, 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.COMPANYNAME.COM will expire on August 18,2009 Act today!
————————————————————————————————————————–

    DETAIL OF SERVICE: ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION FOR DOMAIN NAME WWW.COMPANYNAME.COM

  Detail of Service:
SEARCH SUBMISSIONS

Reply by Date:
8/18/2009

For Domain Name:
COMPANYNAME.COM

*100% SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK

  Select Term Your Existing Domain Period Covered Price

   COMPANYNAME.COM
  [ ] 1 year 8/18/2009 – 8/18/2010 $75.00
  [ ] 2 year 8/18/2009 – 8/18/2011 $119.00
  [ ] 5 year 8/18/2009 – 8/18/2014 $199.00
[ ] 10 year -Most Recommended- 8/18/2009 – 8/18/2019 $295.00

   Please ensure that your contact information is correct or make the necessary changes.


   Full Name: Customer Name Email: Customer@companyname.com

  Phone: _____________________
   Today\’s Date: _____________________ Signature: _____________________


Option 1:
Payment by Credit Card
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BY FAX: 1-646-385-7542

Option 2:
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 Services
  47-47 36th Street #16452
  Long Island City, NY 11101
  United States of America

  Please do not forget to include a copy of this order form along with your payment!

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

  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. There is no pre-existing relationship between DN and the domain mentioned above. This notice is not in any part associated with a continuation of services for domain registration. Search engine submission is an optional service that you can use as a part of your website optimization and alone may not increase the traffic to your site. If you do not wish to receive further updates from DN send an email to wdsrv7861@operamail.com 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.

There is plenty of clues in here to ring some alarm bells. Any kind of solicitation like this should be viewed sceptically. Some may be OK, but in my experience, they usually are not.

Let me know if you have received the same letter, or other similar ones.

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