Domain name scams

Domain name scams

Domain name scams are types of Intellectual property scams or confidence scams in which unscrupulous domain name registrars attempt to generate revenue by tricking businesses into buying, listing or converting a domain name. The Office of Fair Trading has outlined 2 types of domain name scams which are "Domain name registration scams" and "Domain name renewal scams".[1] While others have identified them differently as a "domain registration scam", a "domain renewal scam" and a web directory scam.[2]

Contents

Domain slamming

Domain slamming (also known as unauthorized transfers or domain name registration scams) is a scam in which the offending domain name registrar attempts to trick domain owners into switching from their existing registrar to theirs, under the pretense that the customer is simply renewing their subscription to their current registrar. The term derives from telephone slamming.

Prevention

In 2004, ICANN, the domain name governing body, made changes to its policy for transferring domains between registrars. They introduced a single protective measure that can help prevent unauthorized transfers: domain locking. Critics, although advising owners to apply the new feature, said that this was an "unnecessary and customer-unfriendly change".[3][4]

Timeline

This section outlines reported domain scams as a timeline of events, showing how they have evolved, companies involved and the outcome of complaints.

  • In 2001, the federal Competition Bureau (of Canada) issued a warning about documents that appeared to be invoices sent out by a business called the "Internet Registry of Canada."[5]
  • "Complaints received by the Competition Bureau indicate that the mailings from the 'Internet Registry of Canada' give the impression that it is affiliated with the Government of Canada or that it is an officially sanctioned agency registering domain names in Canada. The 'Internet Registry of Canada' is not associated with any government agency," the Competition Bureau advisory stated.[6]
  • VeriSign was sued in 2002 for their actions in sending ambiguous emails informing people, often incorrectly, that their domain was about to expire and inviting them to click on a link to renew it. Renewing the domain resulted in the registration company being transferred to VeriSign from the previous registrar.[7]
  • May 2002, Peter Kuryliw the sole director of 1473253 Ontario Incorporated (operating as Yellowbusiness.ca) pleaded guilty to targeting over 40,000 business and non-profit organizations with a deceptive mailout for their web directory.[8]
  • On 2nd July 2002, the "Domain Registry" served papers against Canada-based domain registrar Tucows Inc, for alleged defamation and is seeking $21m in damages.[9][10] Tucows later said: "The Company (Tucows) does not believe it will be liable for any damages and accordingly has not accrued any amounts at June 30, 2002."[11]
  • In 2002, Register.com sued Domain Registry of America (aka "Domain Renewal Group"), claiming the company illegally lured away thousands of customers by tricking them into transferring their domains.[12]
  • In 2002, the UK Advertising Watchdog Authority (ASA) slammed Domain Registry of Europe over similar mail shots.[13][14]
  • In response to this, Alan Freeman, Relations Manager for DRoE, said that the company - which also trades as Domain Registry of America and Domain Registry of Canada - had registered 1.1 million domains for customers and was registering between 5,000 and 7,000 new domains a day.[9]
  • In 2003, Dutch hosting provider Deinternetman pondered legal action against Domain Registry of Europe for sending their customers letters urging them to renew their domain contracts.[15]
  • In 2003, VeriSign was found not to have broken the law but were barred from suggesting that a domain was about to expire or that a transfer was actually a renewal.[16]
  • In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with the Domain Registry of America for practices such as transferring domain registrations to their service under the guise of domain renewal, a practice known as domain slamming, and having hidden fees.[17][18][19][20]
  • In April 2004, James Tataka, Simon Benlolo, Alan Benlolo, and Elliot Benlolo were found guilty by a jury for violating the Competition Act.[21] Their scam involved mailing almost 900,000 phoney invoices to businesses and non profit organizations in Canada.[22]
  • In May 2004, as the result of a Competition Bureau investigation into 1473253 Ontario Incorporated, operating as Yellowbusiness.ca, James Tetaka was sentenced and fined for sending out phoney invoice mailings.[23]
  • In July 2004, Mr. Daniel Klemann and 1480455 Ontario Incorporated, operating as Internet Registry of Canada (IROC) was sentenced to a $40,000 fine and a five-year prohibition order for deceptive Internet domain name renewal mailouts that targeted 73,000 businesses and non-profit organizations across Canada.[24]
  • In 2006, reports appeared from New Zealand that Blair Rafferty had resurrected his bankrupt brother Chesley's domain name service, domain slamming New Zealand and Australian registrants.[25]
  • In 2007 a company known as "Domain Renewal SA" operating from Brussels was sending out emails that told you that you need to renew your domain.[26]
  • In 2007, it was reported that a company under the name of Liberty Names of America (or Liberty names of America Inc., also referred to as "Lnoa Inc." or "Lnoa.com") too has been sending out "Domain Name Expiration Notices", which one experts said is "not exactly domain name slamming. But it is sleazy marketing."[27]
  • In 2008 ICANN said: "we are aware of accredited registrars in North America with officers that have been convicted of mail fraud, that continue to be associated with the deceptive marketing practices employed by the Domain Registry of America. We do not consider this an acceptable situation. Accreditation processes must be reviewed, and that review must be released for public scrutiny".[28]
  • In 2009, ASA released an adjudication on Domain Registry of America t/a Domain Renewal Group.[29]
  • As of 2010, this company mailing as DROA, French Internet Registry, Domain Renewal Group or Company Directory, is doing so in order to achieve domain slamming.[30] McAfee Labs also reports that the domain slamming solicitations continue.[31]
  • Registrar Brandon Gray Internet Services Inc. had its licence with the authority responsible for Canada's .ca domain names, Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) terminated Sept. 2010, as a result of domain slamming carried out under the name of Domain Registry of Canada.[32][33] The officer registered with the Ontario government for Brandon Gray Internet Services is Marilyn Benlolo.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Domain name scams". Types of business scams. Office of Fair Trading. http://www.oft.gov.uk/business-advice/protect-your-business-from-scams/types/domain. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
  2. ^ Richardson, Tim (12th July 2002 15:31 GMT). "Three domain name scams". The Register. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/07/12/three_domain_name_scams/. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
  3. ^ Rohde, Laura (NOVEMBER 12, 2004). "ICANN domain transfer policy takes effect". InfoWorld. http://www.infoworld.com/t/platforms/icann-domain-transfer-policy-takes-effect-409. Retrieved 22 July 2011. 
  4. ^ Lake, Matt (November 22, 2004). "Why it's easier than ever to lose your domain". CNET. http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6028_7-5581289-1.html. Retrieved 22 July 2011. 
  5. ^ MARRON, KEVIN (Nov. 06, 2002 9:03PM EST). "'Domain slamming' surfaces on the Web". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/domain-slamming-surfaces-on-the-web/article1048676/. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  6. ^ Charles, Bergeron. "Competition Bureau Issues Warning to Canadians about Misleading Mailings for Internet Domain Name Registrations". Competition Bureau. http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/00528.html. 
  7. ^ TheRegister.co.uk: VeriSign hit with slamming lawsuit
  8. ^ McGrath, Maureen. "Director of Yellowbusiness.ca pleads guilty to deceiving Canadian businesses". Announcement Archives. Competition Bureau. http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/00405.html. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
  9. ^ a b Richardson, Tim (17th July 2002 12:58 GMT). "Domain Registry of Europe defends tactics, sues Tucows". The Register. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/07/17/domain_registry_of_europe_defends/. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  10. ^ Michener, Lang. "1446513 Ontario Limited v. Tucows Inc. et al.". TuCows. http://web.archive.org/web/20030810122021/http://comingsoon.tucows.com/.court_case/. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
  11. ^ COOPERMAN, MICHAEL. "Legal Proceedings". QUARTERLY REPORT. Tucows Inc.. http://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/action/getedgarwindow?accesscode=91205702031385#toc_dm1459_1. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
  12. ^ Register.com says rival duped customers. By Lisa M. Bowman; Staff Writer, CNET News September 18, 2002 12:37 PM PDT
  13. ^ Richardson, Tim (17th July 2002). "ASA slams ‘intimidating’ Domain Registry of Europe mailshots". The Register. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/10/23/asa_slams_intimidating_domain_registry/. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  14. ^ Richardson, Tim (16th August 2002 10:07 GMT). "Ad watchdog critical of Domain Registry of Europe". The Register. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/08/16/ad_watchdog_critical_of_domain/. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  15. ^ Libbenga, Jan (6th August 2003 17:56 GMT). "Legal action threatened against domain slammer". The Register. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/08/06/legal_action_threatened_against_domain/. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  16. ^ TheRegister.co.uk: VeriSign slammed for domain renewal scam
  17. ^ Federal Trade Commission v. Domain Registry of America, Inc.
  18. ^ Federal Trade Commission: Court Bars Canadian Company from Misleading Consumers in Marketing of Internet Domain Name Services
  19. ^ The Register: Court bars Canadian domain slammer
  20. ^ Stephen Lawson (31 December 2002). "Judge Halts Domain Deception". PC World. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,108315-page,1/article.html. Retrieved 24 May 2008. 
  21. ^ a b Jackson, Brian (9/22/2010). "Alleged 'domain slammers' lose dot-ca licence, sue CIRA $10 million". ITworldcanada. http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=59307&PageMem=3. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
  22. ^ "Alan Benlolo, Elliot Benlolo and Simon Benlolo". Court Decisions. Competition Bureau. http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/01865.html. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
  23. ^ "Competition Bureau investigation results in sentencing for phoney invoice scam". Announcement Archives. Competition Bureau. http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/00267.html. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
  24. ^ King, Julie (July 2, 2004). "Toronto man sentenced in Bogus Invoice Scam". CanadaOne. http://www.canadaone.com/ezine/briefs.html?StoryID=04Jul02_1. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
  25. ^ SAARINEN, JUHA (MONDAY, AUGUST 07 2006). "Rafferty brother continues domain slamming scam". Fairfax Media Business Group, Fairfax New Zealand Limited. http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/0B56ACE3E2A579C7CC2571C30007FDE7. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  26. ^ Seltzer, Larry (2007-07-16). "Beware Fake Domain Renewal Notices". eWeek. http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Beware-Fake-Domain-Renewal-Notices/. Retrieved 21 July 2011. 
  27. ^ Mitchell, Robert (November 7, 2007). "The not-quite-domain-name-slamming school of marketing". Computerworld Inc.. http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/6503. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
  28. ^ ICANN: ALAC Statement to the Board of ICANN on Amendments to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement Sun 14 Sep 2008
  29. ^ "ASA Adjudication on Domain Registry of America". ASA. http://www.asa.org.uk/Asa-Action/Adjudications/2009/11/Domain-Registry-of-America/TF_ADJ_47583.aspx. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
  30. ^ Most of the renewal of a domain name Posted May 26, 2010 by Marina Legrand
  31. ^ Schmugar, Craig (30 March 2010). "Persistent Domain-Renewal Scam Alive and Kicking". McAfee Labs Blog. http://www.avertlabs.com/research/blog/index.php/2010/03/30/persistent-domain-renewal-scam-alive-and-kicking/. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  32. ^ Jackson, Brian (9/22/2010 5:57:00 AM). "Alleged 'domain slammers' lose dot-ca licence, sue CIRA $10 million". ITworldcanada. http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=59307. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  33. ^ Shea, Dave. "Domain Registry Scam". mezzoblue. Dave Shea/mezzoblue. http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2008/07/16/domain_regis/. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 

See also

v · d · eScams and confidence tricks
Terminology
Notable scams and confidence tricks
Internet scams and countermeasures
Pyramid and Ponzi schemes
Confidence tricks in media

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