Just another scam to steal your web domain names, at a high cost...

You may remember the article I wrote a while back about Domain Registry of America, which was proven quite a while ago to be a scam by the FTC. Apparently, Domain Registry of America (a.k.a. DroA) has changed their name to Domain Renewal Group, and they're using the same illegal tactics to try and steal domain names from web site owners, at a very high price.

A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Almost every website you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address. For example, my primary domain name is “dellea.biz”. A domain name registrar is a company authorized to receive domain name registration requests, approve registrations and initiate propagation of registration information throughout the Internet.

The Domain Renewal Group (a.k.a. DRG) is sneaky and under-handed. What they do is they monitor the expiration dates of all of the domain names that you own, and when your domain comes within 2-3 months of expiring, they quickly generate a letter and send it out to you via snail mail. In short, this letter starts out by saying “As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months…” and the top of the letter, in huge bold print, says “Domain Name Expiration Notice”. The DRG conveniently makes the letter look like a past-due bill, and they include all of the information about your domain (which they obtain illegally, by the way) with their costs for renewal, and a handy little envelope to send your payment to them.

What the Domain Renewal Group is doing is an old-fashioned bait-and-switch technique. They send you what looks like a legitimate invoice or past-due notice, with a return envelope for payment. As soon as you send them one payment, you have basically granted them permission to take over the ownership and registration privileges of your domain name(s). So your domain name will get moved from your current registrar over to DRG’s own servers. And if you are ever truly past-due with DRG, they will instantly claim ownership of your domain and resell it via auction to other parties.

Also, DRG uses illegal means of obtaining your domain information. They use web-based WhoIs searches to get all of your contact information in the first place. This is illegal in the United States, and in many other parts of the world as well. It states right in the WhoIs databases that you cannot use the information gathered their for commercial means or soliciting business from companies or individuals.

Believe it or not, even though these scam artists thought that changing their name from Domain Registry of America to Domain Renewal Group was a good idea, these morons weren't even smart enough to change their mailing address! That's right, their address is still 2316 Delaware Avenue #266, Buffalo, New York 14216-2687. But in fact, this is just a collections center, and not an actual office. Other research indicates that these people are physically located in Canada!

Personally, I have been getting letters from these idiots for years now, first as DroA and now as DRG! Fortunately, being a computer consultant, I'm smart enough to spot a scam when I see one! Why is the DRG getting away with this, if it is in fact illegal? I don’t understand why the state and federal government has not already shut down these scam artists for good. These scam artists should get life in prison! Looks like I'll be making a formal complaint once again to the FTC, and I urge you to do the same if you receive anything from Domain Renewal Group!