Domain Slamming
What's Dead on the Net
Master Your Domain Name or Someone Else Will.
Remember a few years ago when telephone carriers were stealing customers without their knowledge? It was known as slamming. You'd get a phone call asking you to confirm the details of your long distance account. Maybe you'd get a check in the mail from a different long distance carrier, then, after you cashed the check, you'd realize that you had been switched. That scam has just moved to the Internet.
Welcome to Domain Slamming
I just received an "IMPORTANT NOTICE" from Domain Registry of America. It says that they understand that my domain name expires on a certain date. The notice goes on to recommend that I renew my domain at least 30 days prior to it's expiration to avoid any "Registrar Lock". They warn that if that happens, "you will be unable to renew your domain name at what are likely to be the new lower prices offered by our firm."
The problem here is it leaves the domain owner with the impression that Domains of America is the current registrar. I've got to hand it to them. They've been very careful with the wording of their notice. The phrase " likely to be the new lower prices" sure makes it sound like a bargain. I had to read it more than once to determine that the "IMPORTANT NOTICE" was really a sales letter to get me to switch.
My client's domain names are currently registered through 000Domains.com for $13.50 per year (even if it's one year). Domains of America charges $25 for one year, $40 for two years and $85 for 5 years. Even at 5 years, you'd still be paying Domains of America $17 per year!
How to Prevent Domain Slamming
When you get a notice in the mail about your web site or domain name, call your web professional immediately. If you maintain your own web presence, use the resource link below to learn how to check your domain name yourself.
Using Whois to learn the Truth
Whois is a web function used to learn all the details about you domain name registration. Your listing includes the name of your organization as well as the names of the important contacts: Administration, Billing, and Technical. You'll also learn the true expiration date for your domain name.
Resources - Domain Name Registration
My web career has been devoted to making each of you the Master of Your Internet Domain. Companies like Domains of America profit from web owners ignorance. Don't become a victim. Learn the truth so you can protect your investment and reduce your expenses. By keeping your guard up, it won't be long before Domains of America will be known by their acronym, D.O.A.
Update - April 22, 2002 - 9:00 am EDT
Caught an interesting link while visiting VeriSign. It said:
"VeriSign, Inc. is not affiliated in any way with EDNM, and does not sponsor, endorse, support or otherwise recognize that entity or any services it purports to provide."
I used Google.com to research EDNM. Here are some links you might be interested in:
evolt.org - Article on EDMN and their tactics
Federal Trade Commission - Their list of the top ten dot-cons (Yes I mean Cons)
Update - April 19, 2002 - 1:00 pm EDT
Maybe I should change the name of this article from Slamming to Highjacking.
My client attempted to resolve this issue by calling Domains of America at
(866) 434-0212. She was directed back to the "Important Notice" and told that nothing could be done. I just checked her whois and learned that not only has the registrar been switched, they have locked the domain name to prevent the legal owner from transferring it to a different registrar.
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REGISTRAR: whois.enom.com
Registration Service Provided By: Domain Registry of America
Contact: service@droamerica.com
Visit: http://www.droa.com
Status: REGISTRAR_LOCK
Note: To help prevent malicious domain hijacking and domain transfer
errors, the registrant for this domain has chosen to prevent its transfer.
Any attempted transfers will be denied at the registry. The apparent
authority (registrant) for the name must unlock the name at the current
registrar in order for a transfer initiation to succeed.
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Enjoy!
Jerry Gitchel
Publisher
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