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I have one for you. I recently set a domain for backorder over at SnapNames, went and purchased the matching .net and .org just in case I did manage to grab it up (to complete my magical three for copyright [TM?]).
[Now, keep in mind, I set my email to NOT display in whois for any domains I purchase.]
A week later I receive an email from WebNameSolutions offering me said domain for 199 bucks (Try to follow me here, lol).
So, I look up there domain via whois to find out who owns WebNameSolutions and find out it's NS is on PCGLOBE.CA (a so called canadian company [I make note of phone #]).
I then go to Whois to look up PCGLOBE.CA and find out their phone #number is one digit off.
I call them.. hehe.
[Ms Domainer questions: Doesn't providing an incorrect phone number violate ICANN rules? Also, whatever happened to that rule about a registrar not being involved in registering deleting domains and selling them for extortionist prices?]
"Hey, I yada yada a domain over at SnapNames, do you also own that company besides WebNameSolution?"
He responds with, "Oh, no, but we do business with them."
Me: "How did you get my email address, and how did you know I am actually interested in this domain?"
Him: "Oh, well, uh.. I guess we did a whois?"
(Keep in mind, I don't release my email with my domains.)
So, I offer a lower amount, and he says price is firm. Fine, this is already wicked fishy so I decline and decide to do some more research.
(Stay with me here, lol.)
I'm really curious here and decide to look up PENDINGRENEWALDELETION.COM and find out this is registered by DomainDiscover (which is who I register my domains with??!) I then do a whois on the two domains I have already registered and see my email address has been released in the WHOIS!! I go back to my account and see that my settings are set to NOT release email address!
[Update: PENDINGRENEWALDELETION.com is registered and used by Network Solutions and not by DomainDiscover. Thank you, Frank, for the clarification.]
1) How can they sell me a domain they don't own?
2) How did they find out I'm interested in it at all?
3) Why is the company that holds the other two domains releasing my email address when I've requested they not?
I can't believe ICANN hasn't picked up on all this "insider trading" of information?
Racketeering at its finest!!
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I have been domaining since May 2007, I have observed a lot of ICANN "head turning" at questionable practices.
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I wonder: Is it even possible to be an ethical domainer?
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WebNameSolutions has been sending those emails for quite a while. They look for domains that match the ones you own in the aftermarket and then offer to sell you a domain that they _might_ purchase at one of the drop registrars. On occasion they have even been known to offer domains they don't even have access to.
ReplyDeleteWithout knowing the domains here the details are hard to work out, but for whois privacy, you have to keep the following in mind:
a) At some registrars whois privacy does not protect your email address from the start, it takes a moment to take effect.
b) A protected email address can mean that email still will be forwarded to you by the registrar, since after all your whois information would be invalid if the email did not reach you.
A last note that is PENDINGRENEWALDELETION.com is registered and used by Network Solutions and not by the registrar mentioned in the article.
So to answer the original questions:
1) How can they sell me a domain they don't own?
They can`t but they would try to purchase and then sell it to you.
2) How did they find out I'm interested in it at all?
You own the same domain in other TLDs.
3) Why is the company that holds the other two domains releasing my email address when I've requested they not?
See above, not sure exactly which email address the email went to, make sure to check the headers and get back to us.
/FrankM
Thank you, Frank. I have added an updated correction to this post. I think that anonymous was using this URL as an example, but I see where it might cause some confusion.
ReplyDeleteI have received predatory emails from other registrars offering to sell me domains I already own.
It pays to do some research first and be vigilant.
Ms Domainer