piatkow
msg:4105248 | 3:46 pm on Mar 26, 2010 (gmt 0) |
They have been running this scam for years but a regular heads up for less experienced webmasters is a good idea.
Clients doing stupid things is always a risk of course, you were lucky to be able to catch yours in time.
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engine
msg:4105251 | 3:52 pm on Mar 26, 2010 (gmt 0) |
Yes, it's many years old.
Older one
Domain Registry of America [webmasterworld.com]
More recent one
Domain Registry of America [webmasterworld.com]
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mack
msg:4105253 | 3:54 pm on Mar 26, 2010 (gmt 0) |
There are a number of threads discussing this very company on WebmasterWorld. As has been pointed out they have been involved in this form of activity for several years. They are clearly attempting to fool people into paying what very often looks like a bill.
I receive letters from them regularly and don't even bother to open them now, they go in their rightful place, the bin!
Mack.
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rocknbil
msg:4105330 | 5:52 pm on Mar 26, 2010 (gmt 0) |
I loathe these guys/gals. I get their mails **and** emails, but the worst part of the experience is my clients who are not very net-savvy go "chicken little" on me as a result of receipt, sometimes even to the point of anger. "I thought you were taking care of this for me, isn't that what I pay you for?" (No. :-) ) It's cost me untold hours in "counseling."
Not a lawyer, but even so . . . this should be illegal. <ducks>
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Fortune Hunter
msg:4106191 | 1:08 am on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
| There are a number of threads discussing this very company on Webmaster World. As has been pointed out they have been involved in this form of activity for several years. |
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Sorry for the duplication, my domain names are almost always private so I haven't seen these before. Once I started renewing some domains recently without privacy is when I started seeing them and hence became aware of the problem.
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leadegroot
msg:4106358 | 12:31 pm on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
The variant we are currently seeing in Australia is postal mail from a similarly named company which offers the .net.au variant of the already owned .com.au domain - at an outrageous markup (but they do offer an ipod shuffle as a freebie!)
It isn't, fortunately made to look like a renewal, beyond the way it looks like an invoice.
I've queried with the local Domain Registar - they say its outside their purview and Consumer Affairs is the place to go :(
I wonder how many people fall for it.
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piatkow
msg:4106434 | 3:31 pm on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
There are a number of threads discussing this very company on WebmasterWorld.
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Its still worth resurrecting every couple of years as a warning to those who are new to the business.
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LifeinAsia
msg:4106457 | 3:53 pm on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
I used to get those scam letters a long time ago- back when they were stupid enough to include a pre-paid return envelope. I always used it to return the letter. After the first few letters, I started writing nasty notes to remove me. They kept coming, so I started writing longer notes pointing out the economic loss of continuing to send me letters (postage both ways). They didn't stop, so I started including extra scrap paper, just to make sure the weight exceeded the normal amount and they would have to pay extra. Pretty much finally stopped. :)
However, I still get the occasional message from a client who gets a letter form them.
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Lobo
msg:4106492 | 5:30 pm on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
The scary thing is that enough people must be falling for this scam to keep them in business..
And why has some authority not stamped on it, I know they must have the legals covered but at the very least it is misleading advertising..
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rocknbil
msg:4106636 | 10:18 pm on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
| They didn't stop, so I started including extra scrap paper, just to make sure the weight exceeded the normal amount and they would have to pay extra. |
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Two words: cat litter.
Yes I am evil, but it's a really angelic evil. :-P
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tangor
msg:4106639 | 10:25 pm on Mar 29, 2010 (gmt 0) |
Cat litter might be tempting, but in these days of powder, pellets, and other things not usually found in postal mail might result in a visit from the authorities! Pages from the phone book is a better way to go, with a short note suggesting they go trolling there...
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piatkow
msg:4106891 | 9:43 am on Mar 30, 2010 (gmt 0) |
If I can be bothered I stuff the reply paid envelope with whatever other junk mail I can lay my hands on and post it back. Doesn't get me off the list but it makes them pay twice which makes me feel good, and helps support the postal service.
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bwnbwn
msg:4107010 | 2:57 pm on Mar 30, 2010 (gmt 0) |
Regester sounds like a crack house glad I am not with them.
Thanks for the ideas if I get a letter from them I will make sure I send them back a nice suprise.
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