Phoney address & name when registering a domain name.

What is the worst that can happen?

[lizzie]

Before I get lectured about how I shouldn't do this, I will explain. I am getting threatening emails from a person at a company with a domain registered at "11111 Texas, 11111" as the address.
There is no other identifying information. Isn't there a rule somewhere that phoney info like this can get the company in trouble somehow? Who would I report this phoney address to?

[redzone]

Lizzie,

If they emailed you, then you can obviously contact them back? :)

I would seperate the two issues, resolve why they are threatening you.

Some web sites don't input legit address/phone info, because they are tired of getting spammed to death. I'm not sure on the Internic legal aspects, and how much they are enforced..

We just use one of the registrars that don't release WhoIs info to the public...

[lizzie]

I don't want to contact them, I want to know who they are. Which registrars don't publish your contact info? And is there any good reason to avoid using phoney contact info when registering a domain name?

[redzone]

Dotster and GoDaddy both have security available.

As for the "in's and out's" on phony information in the registrar info., it's just not my area of expertise.. Hopefully someone that knows the legal ramifications in this area, will contribute.

[SlowMove]

>Isn't there a rule somewhere that phoney info like this can get the company in trouble somehow?

I would think threatening emails could land them in trouble.

[lizzie]

But I can't get them in trouble for it if I don't know who they are! Isn't there a rule that if they register a domain under a phoney contact info they can have their domain un-registerd?

[PatrickDeese]

Lizzie -

the only thing you can do is contact their domain registrar and request that their compliance officer ensure that they use genuine contact info.

They generally give the domain owner 15 days to modify the information.

You may still end up with a PO Box and a DBA (doing business as) alias, but better than nothing.

[jeepfun]

Just an FYI, in the event that the information does not get fixed or the Registrar can not reach them at the information listed in whois, the Registrar is supposed to delete the domain for breach.

I know that the larger Registrars do enforce this but may take a little bit longer than 30 days.