Domain Registry of America / droa.com = Scam Artists!

Billy! · 10-19-2004, 05:01 AM

Believe it or not today I received 12 "spam" snail mail letters today from this stupid company
Domain Registry of America
189 Queen Street., Suite 209
Melbourne, 3000
Australia

The thing that amazes me is the letters were sent from the Phillipines, obviously because it is probably much cheaper for this scam company to post to their potential scammed customers to re-register their expiring domain names.

They recommend that I re-register my names for a yearly fee of $38.00 AUD or $25.00USD per year.

For a start what a bloody rip-off, and as if I would be sucked in to post these scam artists my credit card details.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/52105-domain-registry-america-droa-com-scam.html

Unfortunately I live on the Western side of Australia, if I did live in Melbourne on the Eastern side of Australia I would visit their office and have a word to say to them.

I wonder how many other domainers receive these snail mail scams or if they actually suck many people in to re-registering their names... it pisses me off that they have used my whois info to post these letters to me.... Unfortunately I cannot afford to hide my whois through idprotect at enom.

doubledee999 · 10-19-2004, 05:07 AM

I get a good 50 a week

PokerGuide.com · 10-19-2004, 05:13 AM

^^ I posted a thread about this like yesterday.

Billy! · 10-19-2004, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by cmos

^^ I posted a thread about this like yesterday.

Sorry I did not know that, wasn't trying to eat your cake!

PokerGuide.com · 10-19-2004, 05:23 AM

Hehe...

Scott · 10-19-2004, 12:30 PM

ohh..i get too many

/ AJ \ · 10-19-2004, 12:33 PM

" Register your domain name now for only $40.00!
for a two year term, or $25.00 for a one year term."

I better go get one for that price!! Hehe,

Raf · 10-19-2004, 01:14 PM

Heh, I get enough of these kind of e-mails even if I don't provide my e-mail address or anything.

deadserious · 10-19-2004, 01:18 PM

I got one of these in snail mail too. I got one last year that I think was even worse. This one at least says "this is not a bill," but they still try to make it out like you have to pay the fee to keep your domain and I'm sure a lot of people fall for it.

Riceman · 10-19-2004, 02:35 PM

I feel like going up to buffalo NY where these a holes are based and kicking some rear. These guys are complete slime

AdoptableDomains · 10-19-2004, 07:18 PM

I will get 8-10 a week, then none for a few months. I don't even bother opening them any more, and throw their postage dollars in the trash can.

Just like spam, I'm sure enough people fall for it to keep them in business.

doubledee999 · 10-19-2004, 07:43 PM

got a new one today in the postal mail,

Liberty names of america lnoa.com looked similar to droa

***armstrong*** · 11-23-2004, 05:28 PM

I continue receiving junk mail and spam from these guys and their ilk, so it appears that their business is lucrative. Any ideas on how to stop them?

For those unfamilar with DROA, these are the guys who keep sending out official looking domain renewal notices, made to look like bills or invoices to fool the uninformed domain owner. They have lost several cases, but probably just move to another state or country, and resume operations.

They do provide a toll-free number - 1.800.591.7398. Considering that toll-free numbers cost a few cents per minute, I wonder if a few hundred irate domainers calling them everyday can convince them to stop?

Any other ideas?

PolurNET · 11-23-2004, 06:04 PM

Quite worthy to note that the same thing happens in Canada, with the (drumroll!

) DROC - Domain Registry of Canada!

Same company? I can't believe governments haven't heard about this yet, or at least the postal services? They actually send mail to my address, which also must cost $...

***armstrong*** · 11-23-2004, 06:07 PM

The postal service makes money out of these schemes, so I imagine they wouldn't be so bothered about it. To them, these look just like any other junk mailer.

SirSpider · 11-23-2004, 06:27 PM

If they include a postage paid return enelope - drop it back in the mailbox - let them pay the postage BOTH ways.

10-19-2004, 05:01 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
Billy! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Perth > Western Australia Posts: 1,262	Domain Registry of America / droa.com = Scam Artists! Believe it or not today I received 12 "spam" snail mail letters today from this stupid company Domain Registry of America 189 Queen Street., Suite 209 Melbourne, 3000 Australia The thing that amazes me is the letters were sent from the Phillipines, obviously because it is probably much cheaper for this scam company to post to their potential scammed customers to re-register their expiring domain names. They recommend that I re-register my names for a yearly fee of $38.00 AUD or $25.00USD per year. For a start what a bloody rip-off, and as if I would be sucked in to post these scam artists my credit card details. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/52105-domain-registry-america-droa-com-scam.html Unfortunately I live on the Western side of Australia, if I did live in Melbourne on the Eastern side of Australia I would visit their office and have a word to say to them. I wonder how many other domainers receive these snail mail scams or if they actually suck many people in to re-registering their names... it pisses me off that they have used my whois info to post these letters to me.... Unfortunately I cannot afford to hide my whois through idprotect at enom. __________________ Rural Classifieds \| Depression Forum \| Lost Treasure \| Rain Calendar \| Beaut Utes \| My Domains

10-19-2004, 12:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
/ AJ \ Account Closed $/ AJ \'s Avatar$ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Right Here. Posts: 551 $/ AJ \ is a glorious beacon of light$ $/ AJ \ is a glorious beacon of light$ $/ AJ \ is a glorious beacon of light$ $/ AJ \ is a glorious beacon of light$ $/ AJ \ is a glorious beacon of light$	" Register your domain name now for only $40.00! for a two year term, or $25.00 for a one year term." I better go get one for that price!! Hehe,
$/ AJ \ is offline$

10-19-2004, 07:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
AdoptableDomains Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 4,015	I will get 8-10 a week, then none for a few months. I don't even bother opening them any more, and throw their postage dollars in the trash can. Just like spam, I'm sure enough people fall for it to keep them in business. __________________ AdoptableDomains.com ~~~~~Finding Good Homes for Good Names~~~~~ FuelPrices.mobi - Fish.us - ManhattanNewYork.net - Salesmen.info - SoundSystems.org Dickering.com - JobPlacement.biz - LotteryTickets.ws - Deleted.cc - Names.im - MP3.hn

11-23-2004, 05:28 PM	#13 (permalink)
*armstrong* Man from Manila Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Net Posts: 6,022	I continue receiving junk mail and spam from these guys and their ilk, so it appears that their business is lucrative. Any ideas on how to stop them? For those unfamilar with DROA, these are the guys who keep sending out official looking domain renewal notices, made to look like bills or invoices to fool the uninformed domain owner. They have lost several cases, but probably just move to another state or country, and resume operations. They do provide a toll-free number - 1.800.591.7398. Considering that toll-free numbers cost a few cents per minute, I wonder if a few hundred irate domainers calling them everyday can convince them to stop? Any other ideas? __________________ Apollo's excellent 3-letter .BIZ auction; $1 starting bid!

11-23-2004, 06:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
PolurNET Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: I ♥ Business Law Posts: 3,082	Canada too! Quite worthy to note that the same thing happens in Canada, with the (drumroll! ) DROC - Domain Registry of Canada! Same company? I can't believe governments haven't heard about this yet, or at least the postal services? They actually send mail to my address, which also must cost $...

10-19-2004, 05:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
doubledee999 NamePros Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Boston Posts: 818	I get a good 50 a week

10-19-2004, 05:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
PokerGuide.com Internet Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,855	^^ I posted a thread about this like yesterday.

10-19-2004, 05:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
PokerGuide.com Internet Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,855	Hehe...

10-19-2004, 12:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scott Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 3,541	ohh..i get too many

10-19-2004, 01:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Raf Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,744	Heh, I get enough of these kind of e-mails even if I don't provide my e-mail address or anything.

10-19-2004, 01:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
deadserious Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,255	I got one of these in snail mail too. I got one last year that I think was even worse. This one at least says "this is not a bill," but they still try to make it out like you have to pay the fee to keep your domain and I'm sure a lot of people fall for it.

10-19-2004, 02:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Riceman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,015	I feel like going up to buffalo NY where these a holes are based and kicking some rear. These guys are complete slime

10-19-2004, 07:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
doubledee999 NamePros Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Boston Posts: 818	got a new one today in the postal mail, Liberty names of america lnoa.com looked similar to droa

11-23-2004, 06:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
*armstrong* Man from Manila Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Net Posts: 6,022	The postal service makes money out of these schemes, so I imagine they wouldn't be so bothered about it. To them, these look just like any other junk mailer. __________________ Apollo's excellent 3-letter .BIZ auction; $1 starting bid!

11-23-2004, 06:27 PM	#16 (permalink)
SirSpider NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Baltimore.to Posts: 435	If they include a postage paid return enelope - drop it back in the mailbox - let them pay the postage BOTH ways. __________________ --- SirSpider says, "Visit Ocean City, MD for a fun beach vacation." Leave No Child Behind - Controversy in Education Reform

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Domain Registry of America / droa.com = Scam Artists!

Canada too!