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{{short description|Cybercrime}}
{{Cleanup reorganize|date=March 2012}}
A '''
== Domain slamming ==
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== False offers to buy, or to find buyers ==
Scam methods may operate in reverse, with a stranger (not the registrar) communicating an offer to buy a domain name from an unwary owner. The offer is not genuine, but intended to lure the owner into a false sales process, with the owner eventually pressed to send money in advance to the scammer for appraisal fees or other purported services. By mimicking aspects of the legitimate sales process and agencies, the scheme appears genuine in the early stages. The prospect of an easy, lucrative sale disarms the owner's normal suspicion of an unsolicited offer from a stranger with no earnest value. Since an actual transfer through the registration system is never involved, legal safeguards built into the official transfer process provide no protection.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}
== Fake trademark protection ==
Although less common than domain slamming, another domain name scam primarily coming from registrars based in China involves sending domain owners an e-mail claiming that another company has just attempted to register a number of domains with them which contain the targeted domain owner's trademark or has many keyword similarities to their existing domain name. Often, these domains will be the same as the one(s) owned by the targeted individual but with different TLDs (top-level domains). The scammer will claim to have halted the bulk registration in order to protect the targeted individual's intellectual property, and if the email recipient doesn't recognize the entity attempting to register these domain names, that they should respond immediately to protect their trademark. If the scam target does respond by email or by phone, the scammer will then try to get them to register these domain names for several years upfront with the registrar running this scam.<ref name="pcw">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/183803/beware_domain_registration_scams.html|title=Beware Domain Registration Scams|first=Amir|last=Lev|publisher=PCWorld Communications, Inc.|access-date=2012-05-04|date=2009-12-09|archive-date=2012-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607223844/http://www.pcworld.com/article/183803/beware_domain_registration_scams.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Other variations of this type of scam include registrars that target their own existing customers with similar made-up threats of another entity trying to register the same domain as theirs under different TLDs. As well, some domainers are known to search for available TLDs for already registered domains, then emailing the owner of the registered domain and offering to sell the unregistered variations to him/her for a marked up amount. If the target agrees to the deal, the domainer will then purchase the domains on the spot for the regular $7~20 registration fee and immediately sell it back to the victim for a few hundred dollars.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}
== Timeline ==
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* [[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.<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/14/verisign_hit_with_slamming_lawsuit TheRegister.co.uk]: VeriSign hit with slamming lawsuit</ref>
* In March 2002, the FTC shut down "TLD Network Ltd", "Quantum Management (GB) Ltd.", "TBS Industries Ltd." of London, England, for selling bogus domain names ".USA", ".BRIT", which they deceptively marketed as usable suffixes.<ref>[http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/03/tld.shtm Federal Trade Commission: Court Shuts Down Website Selling Bogus Domain Names ".USA," ".BRIT," Deceptively Marketed as Useable] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231621/http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/03/tld.shtm |date=April 25, 2012 }}</ref>
* In April 2002, the FTC charged ''National Domain Name Registry'', ''Electronic Domain Name Monitoring'', ''Corporate Domain Name Monitoring'', and owner Darren J. Morgenstern, with making false and misleading statements to domain name holders whereby they duped consumers into needlessly registering variations of their existing domain names by deceptively contending that third parties were about to claim them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/04/morgenstern.shtm |title=
* On 2 July 2002, the "Domain Registry" served papers against Canada-based domain registrar [[Tucows Inc]] for alleged defamation and sought $21 m in damages.<ref name="droe" /><ref name=tucows_court_case>{{cite web|last=Michener |first=Lang |title=1446513 Ontario Limited v. Tucows Inc. et al. |url=http://comingsoon.tucows.com/.court_case/ |publisher=[[TuCows]] |access-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810122021/http://comingsoon.tucows.com/.court_case/ |archive-date=August 10, 2003 }}</ref> 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."<ref name=tucows_report>{{cite web|last=Cooperman|first=Michael|title=Legal Proceedings|url=http://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/action/getedgarwindow?accesscode=91205702031385#toc_dm1459_1|work=Quarterly Report|publisher=Tucows Inc.|access-date=13 July 2011}}</ref>
* In 2002, [[Register.com]] sued ''Domain Registry of America'' (a Brandon Gray reseller{{Ref label|BrandonGray|1|b}}), claiming the company illegally lured away thousands of customers by tricking them into transferring their domains.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/Register.com-says-rival-duped-customers/2100-1024_3-955733.html Register.com says rival duped customers. By Lisa M. Bowman; Staff Writer, CNET News] September 18, 2002 12:37 PM PDT</ref>
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* In July 2004, Daniel Klemann and ''1480455 Ontario Incorporated'', operating as ''Internet Registry of Canada'' (a Brandon Gray reseller{{Ref label|BrandonGray|1|f}}), 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Julie|title=Toronto man sentenced in Bogus Invoice Scam|url=http://www.canadaone.com/ezine/briefs.html?StoryID=04Jul02_1|access-date=14 July 2011|newspaper=[[CanadaOne]]|date=July 2, 2004}}</ref>
* In April 2005, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission warns of a domain name renewal scam where domain name holders have received a letter that looks like an invoice for the registration or renewal of a domain name, where the domain name in question is very similar to your actual domain name except has a different ending, for example it will end in “.net.au” instead of “.com” <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/domainnamerenewalscams#h2_10|title=False billing|publisher=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|date=14 May 2015|access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref>
* In March 2006, Consumer Fraud Reporting reports about a company called “Domain Listing Service” sending out emails to domain name holders that look like a bill to register/renew their domain name listing a “final notice”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/domainnamescams.htm|title=Domain Name Registration Scams|website=www.consumerfraudreporting.org|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606053039/http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/domainnamescams.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Saarinen|first=Juha|title=Rafferty brother continues domain slamming scam|url=http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/0B56ACE3E2A579C7CC2571C30007FDE7|access-date=12 July 2011|newspaper=Fairfax Media Business Group, Fairfax New Zealand Limited|date=August 7, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001065509/http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/0B56ACE3E2A579C7CC2571C30007FDE7|archive-date=1 October 2011}}</ref>
* 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.<ref name=eweek>{{cite news|last=Seltzer|first=Larry|title=Beware Fake Domain Renewal Notices|url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Beware-Fake-Domain-Renewal-Notices/|access-date=21 July 2011|newspaper=[[eWeek]]|date=2007-07-16}}</ref>
* In August 2007, the Internet Centre reports of a wave of emails originating from China from “Asian Domain Registration Service”, implying that a domain name will be lost, or all Asian TLDs of the domain name will be taken away shortly by a foreign company. The Internet Centre has found no indication that any of these are valid, and in fact, they appear to be a scam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incentre.net/content/view/113/1 |title=
* In 2007, it was reported that a company under the name of ''Liberty Names of America'' (a Brandon Gray reseller{{Ref label|BrandonGray|1|g}}) had been sending out "Domain Name Expiration Notices", which one expert said is "not exactly ''domain name slamming''. But it is sleazy marketing."<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Robert|title=The not-quite-domain-name-slamming school of marketing|url=http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/6503|access-date=13 July 2011|newspaper=Computerworld Inc.|date=November 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202061840/http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/6503|archive-date=2 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In March 2008, PC News Digest reports “Network Solutions Scam”. When searching on the Network Solutions website to see if a name was available for registration, Network Solutions was actually registering the name and then attempting to sell that name at an inflated price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pcnewsdigest.com/network-solutions-scam/|title=Network Solutions Scam|date=7 March 2008|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=25 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225161130/http://pcnewsdigest.com/network-solutions-scam/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 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'' (a Brandon Gray reseller{{Ref label|BrandonGray|1|h}}). We do not consider this an acceptable situation. Accreditation processes must be reviewed, and that review must be released for public scrutiny".<ref>[[ICANN]]: [http://www.atlarge.icann.org/en/correspondence/correspondence-14sep.htm ALAC Statement to the Board of ICANN on Amendments to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement] Sun 14 Sep 2008</ref>
* In 2009, [[American Student Assistance|ASA]] released an [[adjudication]] on ''Domain Registry of America'' t/a ''Domain Renewal Group'' (both Brandon Gray resellers{{Ref label|BrandonGray|1|i}}).<ref name=asa>{{cite web|title=ASA Adjudication on Domain Registry of America|url=http://www.asa.org.uk/Asa-Action/Adjudications/2009/11/Domain-Registry-of-America/TF_ADJ_47583.aspx|publisher=[[American Student Assistance|ASA]]|access-date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807045218/http://www.asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2009/11/Domain-Registry-of-America/TF_ADJ_47583.aspx|archive-date=7 August 2011}}</ref>
* As of 2010, the company mailing as ''DROA'', ''French Internet Registry'', ''Domain Renewal Group'' or ''Company Directory'', is doing so in order to achieve ''domain slamming''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.micro-entreprise.info/essentiel-renouvellement-nom-domaine-n25981.html|title=L'essentiel sur le renouvellement d'un nom de domaine -|date=26 May 2010|access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref> [[McAfee]] Labs also reports that the ''domain slamming'' solicitations continue.<ref>{{cite web |first=Craig | last=Schmugar | title=Persistent Domain-Renewal Scam Alive and Kicking | work=McAfee Labs Blog | date=30 March 2010 | url=http://www.avertlabs.com/research/blog/index.php/2010/03/30/persistent-domain-renewal-scam-alive-and-kicking/ | access-date=6 May 2010 }}</ref>
* In September 2010, ''Brandon Gray Internet Services Inc.'' had its licence with the authority responsible for Canada's [[.ca]] domain names, [[Canadian Internet Registration Authority]] terminated as a result of ''domain slamming'' carried out under the name of ''Domain Registry of Canada''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Brian|title=Alleged 'domain slammers' lose dot-ca licence, sue CIRA $10 million|url=http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=59307|access-date=12 July 2011|newspaper=ITworldcanada|date=2010-09-22 <!-- 5:57:00 AM --> }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shea|first=Dave|title=Domain Registry Scam|url=http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2008/07/16/domain_regis/|work=mezzoblue|publisher=[[Dave Shea (web designer)|Dave Shea]]/[[mezzoblue]]|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605210156/http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2008/07/16/domain_regis/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The officer registered with the Ontario government for Brandon Gray Internet Services is Marilyn Benlolo.<ref name=itbusinessca-59307-p3>{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Brian|title=Alleged 'domain slammers' lose dot-ca licence, sue CIRA $10 million|url=http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=59307&PageMem=3|access-date=7 August 2011|newspaper=[[ITworldcanada]]|date=2010-09-22}}</ref>
* In August 2010, the FTC charged ''Internet Listing Service'' with sending fake invoices to small business and others listing the existing domain name of the consumers Website or a slight variation on the domain name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/08/ils.shtm|title=FTC Halts Cross Border Domain Name Registration Scam|date=9 August 2010}}</ref>
* On March 31, 2011, the law office of Ostrolenk Faber LLP warned about Trademark and Domain Name Scams where its clients received fake warnings of usurpers of internet domain names. Clients were allegedly receiving phony "Trademark Office Notices" from the "United States Trademark Agency".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ostrolenk.com/publications/trademark_articles.html?PID=75|title=Ostrolenk Faber LLP|website=www.ostrolenk.com|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418222119/http://www.ostrolenk.com/publications/trademark_articles.html?PID=75|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*In December 2011, NameCheap accused GoDaddy of putting technical barriers to frustrate its customers from transferring their domains to Namecheap in breach of ICANN rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/052315/who-are-godaddys-gddy-main-competitors.asp?partner=YahooSA|title=Who are GoDaddy's (GDDY) main competitors?|date=23 May 2015|website=Investopedia|access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref>{{better source|date=February 2022}}
* In July 2014, ICANN suspended ''[[Brandon Gray Internet Services]]'' (including its various resellers, like ''Domain Registry of America'' and ''Namejuice.com'') for subjecting domain name holders to false advertising, deceptive practices, or deceptive notices.<ref name="DIIN19July2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.internetnews.me/2014/07/19/domain-registry-america-suspended-icann/|title=Domain Registry Of America Suspended By ICANN|last1=Neylon|first1=Michele|date=19 July 2014|publisher=Domain Industry & Internet News|access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref>
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[[Category:Fraud]]
[[Category:Intellectual property law]]
[[Category:Social engineering (
[[Category:Spamming]]
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