Domain 'theft' paranoia

[domainsagain09]

Hello.

I used to post here a few years back, but have been quiet on the domain front for a while. I never purchase domains unless they are for a specific projects - so am not a domainer as such, but following being approached to sell a couple of my domains registered in 99 - and selling for quite a bit, I have to say I have an interest in them and when i start a new project, the domain is always the most important part of it's creation. I spent second week of December kicking round names for my new project - i used a trusted site to search for the .com's but stupidly looked for the .fr's on a couple of French domain sites I didn't know too well all the names were available - I should have known better but i waited a week or so before registering them. Though i live in France, I'm a Brit so i stupidly prioritised the .com's over the .fr's. All names still available. All went well. However, when i checked whois on new years eve, i saw one of the .fr's didn't have my name against it and was showing as registered but with no other details. Checked again to today and someelses name is against it - stating creation as 9th Jan. My confirmation of order came through end of Dec. The domain reg service i used, sounded cagey when i rung them and said name had been in redemption - dont udnerstand how this can be when name only created two weeks ago ...so called AFNIC and they said the other party had ordered the domain 23 Dec but due to technical problem, the name had continued to show as available until 9th. My concern is that we're talking about a tiny niche market - i don't beleive that someone would have registered the domain just a few days after i looked it up -and the technical problem makes me suspicious too....i told the AFNIC guy that i knew it sounded paranoid, but he said 'not at all' and mentioned corrupt searches (he was French talking to me in English - so not sure if he was using correct terms) is it really true that people spy on domain searches as one does them? If so, who is at fault, the registration companies? AFNIC man suggested i file a dispute - but i don't rate my changes because the purchaser is shown as ordering the domain a few days before i did...surely i can't file a dispute on the strength of me suspecting he'd got the domain name idea from one of my searches. Very grateful for any advice.

 

[co2]

Front Running, Paranoia Or Bligh !.

I started Domaining about 3 years ago. I quickly found out the hard way about front running , and I lost several good names. 3 weeks ago I was checking at a whois, but I search for other ext, info, biz, ect not the dot com. I must have slipped up, lost 3 more good Domains. Front running will continue to be a blight on Domainers. As for filing a dispute, I emailed ICANN with hard evidence, thay did not even reply. So in answer to your question, no you are not Paranoid, nor do you have Paranoia.

 

[ThreeD]

You should do a NP thread search and you'll be amazed how many NP'ers have been through the exact same experience. I always use Moniker to conduct our research. Someone here at NP told me they're the safest bet if you don't want other people to skim through your search list.

I've heard it all too often, someone does a search and two days later when they come back to register the domain, it's taken. It's hard to prove what's going on behind the curtains, but the pattern is more and more obvious.

 

[domainsagain09]

thanks

Hi

Thanks for your sympathy (esp as i should have known better) although i have bought names speculatively, these were for a particular project so it's quite upsetting.
I just wanted to to say, in case it helps anyone, that I got particularly good customer service from AFNIC who govern the .fr's. i fully expected the guy to laugh at me when i mentioned fast tracking, but his tone suggested he agreed with me he said that i should contact a new service set up by French gov and that it would be 'interesting' to persue the matter. The site is https://internet-signalement.gouv.fr/ looking at the site - I don't think it's going to be very helpful, but you never know. 1and1 are the registrar i use in France by the way (sorry, should say used).