Whois email bounces

[redshift]

I have some names I want to buy, the sites have been sitting there for years doing nothing and the whois emails are bouncing
I put them on backorder but it will be a long time.
what do you do when the whois info isnt up to date? I read somewhere the name can be taken away from them if the contact info isnt correct is this right?

editing to add phone numbers have no answer either

 

[Spade]

I have some names I want to buy, the sites have been sitting there for years doing nothing and the whois emails are bouncing
I put them on backorder but it will be a long time.
what do you do when the whois info isnt up to date? I read somewhere the name can be taken away from them if the contact info isnt correct is this right?

editing to add phone numbers have no answer either

The registrant owner is required to keep valid and update contact information, including email. You can contact the registrant and let them know. The registrar will then usually attempt to contact the owner to try and get the whois information updated, if they cannot within a certain time frame, they will usually cancel the domain name.

GoDaddy is pretty strict in this regards.

 

[redshift]

hmmm is this a tactic people use to grab names?
is it possible to ask them to transfer it to you instead of cancel
is that considered being underhanded?

 

[Barrucadu]

hmmm is this a tactic people use to grab names?
is it possible to ask them to transfer it to you instead of cancel
is that considered being underhanded?

I dont think that they would give the domain to you, no matter how nicely you asked. You'd have to re-register it.

Plus "This person has incorrect whois - please transfer the domain to me" just feels a little wrong to me.

 

[Brad|E]

Underhanded sounds like a bit of a euphemism for this tactic. Spend a few hours searching the domain on google, domaintools, etc. I recently had this problem and eventually turned up the registrant's cell phone number.

If you do find valid contact info, you might politely suggest to the registrant that the whois contact information should be updated to avoid action by the registrar.

Good luck.

 

[redshift]

yes it does seem like a bad way to get a name, just wondering if its done
well after months the email went through maybe their box was too full or something

 

[armstrong]

Its legal, but considered underhanded in this community because many of us have at one time or another failed to update our whois.

Also, if the domains you're after are premium in any way (short/one-word/traffic/etc), then odds are slim that you'll get the domain after it drops, as many other automated dropcatchers will go after them.

Your best option is still to keep trying to search for the owner's contact info. Be creative. Some things you can try:

- archive.org
- search domain forums for mention of the names
- search old whois records
- contact the webhost of his nameservers

 

[Kate]

Most likely the registrar will put the domain on hold then let it expire if registrant does not come forward by then.

 

[Fewski]

I reported a few different domains for having fake whoIS details before to iCANN, but months later the domains are still active.

I don't think they really care a whole lot... or atleast thats what I found in my experiences.