Finding the Domain Owner with Bad Whois Info

Want to make an offer to buy

[rmjvol]

I've found a domain that would be be nice for a site I want to develop. There is no site on the domain & the domain doesn't expire for more than a year. DNS is still set to the registrar's default.

The whois on the site was accurate but the owner has moved & the contact email is dead also.

I've tried Googleing the owner, the owner's old buddies, the owner's old company, the owner's old phone/address... and find nothing but dead ends.

I've already purchased the next best name. Short of hiring a private dick, is there anything that I could do other than wait?

BTW, already saw [webmasterworld.com...] about contacting Internic's Whois Data Problem Report System. Any point in trying that?

Thanks,
rmjvol

[Webwork]

Have you picked up the phone and placed calls to any numbers related to those leads? That sometimes will get you the connection you need.

Have you sent a letter to the last known address of any lead or sought a forwarding address from the postmaster? That works too.

I've found phone work to be the most helpful, especially if you explain the fact that you are looking to pay someone for the domain name. I've had people place calls to people who then got in touch with me.

[rmjvol]

Not tried snail mail or asking for forwarding address. I have called the 1 # listed in whois & it's disconnected. Maybe i'll try calling some of the other names that I've got.

Thanks,
rmjvol

[jo1ene]

Technically, having bad contact information on the domain is a violation. Have you tried contacting the rigistrar? You may be able to get them to release it for sale. I got one of my domains this way. You may have to annoy them mercilessly, though.