Scam Email on Name Expiration?

[meljr]

I got this funny email. Has anyone seen anything like this before.

The email was from

From: "WDRP Compliance" <[email protected]>

The ULR links back to:

http://www.name-services.com

I wonder if this is some kind of a scam.

meljr

****Start of Funny email****

Dear Domain Holder,

This message is a reminder to help you keep the contact data associated
with your domain registration up-to-date.

As of Dec 31, 2003, we are required by the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to send you this reminder by the
Anniversary date of each registered Domain Name that is subject to the terms
and conditions of that organization.

Below is a list of domain names with your email address listed as the
registrant or administrative contact. The current contact information
associated with the domain may be verified by following the link
provided.
If any of the contact data is inaccurate, it must be corrected. If the
contact data is accurate, no further action is required to comply with
this notice.

Please remember that under the terms of your registration agreement,
the provision of false Whois (contact) information can be grounds for
cancellation of your domain name registration.

Domain Names with Anniversary Dates between January 1 and January 15

Name: Registration Date:
------ -----------------
not4salebooks.com Jan 18, 2003
View Contact Data:
(I removed the address here-meljr)



Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

WDRP Compliance

****End of Funny Email****

 

[RJ]

As of today, you should receive one of these notices for each of your domains around their anniversary date from the registrar. Like the email quoted above:

Originally posted by meljr
As of Dec 31, 2003, we are required by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to send you this reminder by the Anniversary date of each registered Domain Name that is subject to the terms and conditions of that organization.

It's legit. No scam here.

These are sent out by eNom. They use the name-services.com domain because its neutral and they support a large number of resellers that sell their domains.

 

[Jeff]

Yes Sir, RJ is righto! :tu:
Having once been on the receiving end of a very probable domain dispute at one point in time, the attorney's for the other party started with the Registrar of Record to enforce this clause ("Please remember that under the terms of your registration agreement, the provision of false Whois (contact) information can be grounds for cancellation of your domain name registration.") in order to get a domain name from me. I had an outdated tel. number listed in WhoIs and totally forgot to update it.
Keep your WhoIs records up to date ... this E-mail you received is coming from all of the Registrars on or around the anniversary dates due to ICann's enforcement through the Registrars.
Is no worries (and needs no response in most cases) if it's all up-to-date at the WhoIs Admin. level.

 

[bensontwenty]

Hmmm, I appreciate what you guys are saying about it being legit but it leaves all sorts of possible avenues open for scammers. There was a case in the UK a couple of years back (in fact they might still be trying it) whereby a company was snail mailing companies advising them that their domain was about to expire and that they were required to pay GBPXXX to keep it. The company targeted non webbie people that didn't know any better and made a killing from it. It was all perfectly legit as well and included step by step instructions of how to go about it, including transfering it from their existing registrar!

Just be careful with this one and make sure that the email you get doesn't offer a that one time deal to renew for xxx etc

 

[RJ]

Good point JPG.

It's important to distinguish between these new WHOIS info confirmation letters and the common domain renewal scams which come from companies that trick consumers into switching registrars under the guise of a renewal notice.

The WHOIS confirmation letters should require you to take no action other than glance at your contact information to make sure its correct.

 

[meljr]

Well I got the email ok, but it just lead to an emply link at:

<http://wdrp.name-services.com/whois.asp?key=4ED41329F50>

Any ideas how to update my info here. This domain name is with 1t3.com from about a year ago. They do not seem to be together and change servers on me about 3 times. I am afraid they are trying to get me to re-host with them. I put a backorder on the name to see if I could get it when it drops.

Plus it is one of my more brilliant site ideas Not4SaleBooks.com (NOT).

Thanks
meljr