We at BitBlock Systems Inc. feel it is necessary to inform our clients about another internet scam involving a form of something called "Domain Slamming." This type of scam shares certain characteristics with the one described in our FAQ “What is Domain ‘Slamming’ & who is ‘Domain Registry of Canada’?”
Like all other scams, the best way to combat them is through knowledge. The most effective scams are the types that appeal to your fears or concerns, while at the same time managing to portray themselves in a manner that seems official and professional. The scam that has recently come to our attention does both, making it even more believable and therefore more dangerous to your security, and to your wallet. The best way to defend yourself against these types of scams is to be skeptical, and do research before agreeing to give anyone money or information.
What follows below is a detailed example of an actual client interaction with one such case.
The suspicious Email received by one of our clients reads as follows:
Dear Manager,
(If you are not the person who is in charge of this, please forward this to your CEO,Thanks)
This email is from China domain name registration center, which mainly deal with the domain name registration in China and Asia. We received an application from Tianhong Ltd on May 10, 2013. They want to register [your domain] as their internet keyword and China/Asia/Hongkong (CN/ASIA/HK) domain names. But after checking it, we find this name conflicts with your company. In order to deal with this matter better, so we send you email and confirm whether this company is your distributor or business partner in China or not?
Best Regards,
Jim
General Manager
Shanghai Office (Head Office)
3002, Nanhai Building, No. 854 Nandan Road,
Xuhui District, Shanghai 200070, China
Tel: +86 216191 8696
Mobile: +86 1870199 4951
Fax: +86 216191 8697
Web: www.yg-registry.org
Our client responded with, “Sorry - we don't care / aren't interested.” and scammer responded with:
Dear [name],
The checking time will be over soon, we have not received your reply about the domain name and internet keyword since our last communication. You must know domain name takes open registration, this is international domain name registration principle. So the company has right to register them. As a domain name registrar, we have no right to refuse their application. We aslo suggest this company should change another name but they stick to this name so if your company want to prevent anybody from using these domains, the only way is to register these CN/ASIA/HK domains and internet keyword. In our checking time, your company has first priority to register them. Could you tell us whether your company want to make this application to prevent anybody from using them or not?
Best Regards
Jim
The scammer “Jim” maintains a professional tone (despite his poor grammar and inability to spell the word “also”) and informs the person receiving the Email that the only way to keep your domain name exclusive to your company is to purchase it through them, which is probably not true - and it is likely that this company will charge several times the market value for the service.
“Jim” followed up once more, sending this Email:
Dear [name] ,
Based on your company having no relationship with them, we have suggested they should choose another name to avoid this conflict but they insist on this name as CN/ASIA/HK domain names (.cn/.com.cn/.net.cn/.org.cn/.asia/.hk/.com.hk) and internet keyword on the internet. In our opinion, maybe they do the similar business as your company and register it to promote his company.
According to the domain name registration principle: The domain names and internet keyword which applied based on the international principle are opened to companies as well as individuals. Any companies or individuals have rights to register any domain name and internet keyword which are unregistered. Because your company haven't registered this name as CN/ASIA/HK domains and internet keyword on the internet, anyone can obtain them by registration. However, in order to avoid this conflict, the trademark or original name owner has priority to make this registration in our audit period. If your company is the original owner of this name and want to register these CN/ASIA/HK domain names (.cn/.com.cn/.net.cn/.org.cn/.asia/.hk/.com.hk) and internet keyword to prevent anybody from using them, please inform us. We can send an application form and the price list to you and help you register these within dispute period.
Kind regards
Jim
General Manager
Shanghai Office (Head Office)
3002, Nanhai Building, No. 854 Nandan Road,
Xuhui District, Shanghai 200070, China
Tel: +86 216191 8696
Mobile: +86 1870199 4951
Fax: +86 216191 8697
Web: www.yg-registry.org
This type of scam is effective because there is a real possibility that someone could buy your domain name using a different extension (.hk, .cn, .asia). If it was important to you and your business to make sure that no one else registered a similar name, it would be a good idea to consider buying other domains as a part of a well considered brand protection strategy. Usually only companies wishing to protect their brand identity in different countries or markets are concerned with this issue. Sometimes it could be because there is an intention to expand the company to these other markets where certain extensions are more common, or because there is concern about someone misusing or misrepresenting their company name in another country. If it is something your business is concerned with, make sure to buy the domains name from a trusted registrar, because even if this scammer actually did give you the domain name if you gave them money, there would be a massive markup.
Knowledge of scams is the best defense against them; we at BitBlock Systems Inc. want to ensure that our customers can be aware of as many potential threats as possible. If you become aware of one or are suspicious of one feel free to contact us to ask questions or to let us know.