Domain Name Scam

Why the fortune cookie?

I made this image to go with my post because I want to help you build and maintain your company “fortune”. One way I plan to do that is to alert you when I hear of a scam.

As mentioned in my last post about domain names coming up for renewal, there are scam artists out there that want to get your hard earned money.

The latest one comes from a company called China Net Technology Limited. They are sending out emails to companies in an attempt to get them to register every domain name under the sun at a higher rate than you should pay.

One of my clients received this message today:

Dear Manager,

We are China Net Technology Limited, which is the domain name register center in China. I am very sorry to bother you and have something need to confirm with you.

we have received an application formally, one company named MieDac Holdings Limited applies for the domain names(.c .com.cn.info.asia.biz.hk etc.) and the Internet Brand Name( ) on the internet Mar 3. 2008. We need to know the opinion of your company, because the domain names and keywords may relate to the usufruct of brand name on internet.

we would like to get the affirmation of your company,please contact us by telephone or email as soon as possible. Please let someone in your company who is responsible for trademark or intellectual right contact me freely.

Please confirm you have received my mail. Thank you!

Warm Regards,

Air.yi

Sponsoring Registrar:

China Net Technology Limited.

Tel:+(852)30759838

Fax:+(852)3177 1520

Email: air.yi@china-net.hk

Website: www.china-net.hk


Fortunately, my client had the good sense to forward the email to me to review. (I removed his domain name from the email for his privacy.) In addition to the numerous spelling and grammar errors above, I also Google’d the company and found many other posts on the Internet of people they are trying to scam.

In the future if you should receive any type of questionable mail regarding your domain name, run it past your webmaster or hosting company - or if you are one of my clients, feel free to contact me to make sure you aren’t getting scammed too.

Joanne

Domain Name Renewal

Is your domain name coming up for renewal?

If so, take into consideration the tips below in order to make it a painless process:

• Don’t get fooled by scammers and pay through the nose for your domain name. If you are new to owning a website and domain name, you may have purchased just a year in the beginning to wait and see if you were successful or not. If your domain name isn’t private, people can look up the information and contact you to renew your name.

• It happens every day and what they do is contact you pretending that you need to order the domain name from them. You’ll notice that the name is significantly higher for the second year and you may not recognize the company name. Many people have no idea they are being scammed and send in their money to keep their domain name registered. Often times the fake companies will take your money and run.

• Additionally, there are companies who like to swoop in under your registrar and get you to order your domain name renewal and transfer it to them at a higher price than your regular registrar.

• When in doubt, contact your domain name provider to see if they have indeed sent you a renewal notice and be aware that a domain name should never cost more than around $14.00 tops. If you’re paying any higher, you are overpaying!

• Lastly, it has been reported that having your domain name registered for more than a year will help you with SEO. There are people who firmly believe this and others who do not. If it is true and you purchase 2 or more years, you’ll most likely get a discount for ordering more than one year. If it isn’t true and you get a discount anyhow, you’re saving money and don’t we love that?

The whole process can be quick and painless, just make sure that you don't let it expire and have the dreaded "parked" page up there. Pay attention to always managing your company website and keep things current.

Joanne