08.11.05 RECEIVED A LETTER ASKING FOR SEARCH ENGINE PAYMENT?:
Letters requesting customers purchase search engine services are on the circuit. A
link to an example can be found here. |
27.10.05 GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES ONLINE AWARENESS SCHEME:
The scheme aims to arrest the growth in computer
security risks that threaten to slow down
the rise of ecommerce. Its main purpose is
to help the public to become more "cyber-savvy" and
to consolidate net security information on
a single website, which can be found here.
The scheme will focus on the basics of Internet security. Subjects covered will
include advising users to maintain up-to-date
anti-virus signatures, patch operating systems
and use firewalls. Protecting personal information,
password protection and counter-fraud measures
will also be covered. The campaign will also
aim to educate users about spyware and adware
risks.
The campaign is a joint initiative between HM Government, the National Hi-Tech
Crime Unit and private sector sponsors from
the worlds of technology, retail and finance.
Sharon Lemon, head of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit explained the nature of
the challenge: "Increasingly we are seeing
organised criminals turning to the Internet
as a vehicle for their criminality. And as
more of us are connecting to the internet
to shop, bank and communicate, we need to
make sure that we do so as safely as possible.
Get Safe Online gives the public the information
they need to protect themselves." |
11.02.05
DOMAIN SLAMMER IN CUSTODY:
Nominet UK has won its legal action
against bogus invoicing scam outfit Domain
Registry
Services and you can read the article here.
|
15.10.04 RECEIVED AN EMAIL ASKING YOU TO
CONFIRM YOUR BANKING SECURITY DETAILS?:
Fake
emails requesting customers confirm their bank details are on
the increase and the first recorded case of a prosecution against
phishermen was recorded today. A link to the article can be
found here.
If you are concerned about online banking generally and would
like to investigate how to protect yourself against online banking
scams, an advice site exists here. |
22.09.04 DOMAIN SLAMMERS
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE:
After more than 18 months since
the initial offence, UK Internet Registry have finally been
brought to book
by the official UK domain Registry, Nominet. Hopefully this marks the beginning
of the end for Domain Slammers and you can read the full story here. |
13.09.04 UK
BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO BE PLAGUED BY SO-CALLED "DOMAIN SLAMMERS":
With
the Office of Fair Trading warning businesses
earlier this
year
about sharp practice. Any business or individual
receiving a call whereby they are encouraged
to buy domains to prevent a third party obtaining
it (a defensive registration), should contact
their existing ISP for advice on the legitimacy
of the offer. A news article pertaining to
this practice can be seen here. |
16.08.04 DOMAIN REGISTRY SERVICES:
Yet another participant has shown
up in the domain slamming market - Domain Registry Services (suspected linked
to EU Registry Services). Currently under investigation by Trading Standards
and
you can see an article about them here.
As always, the safety
of your domain can be checked online in minutes
so don't panic. Just log in to your account
and check the details or perform a whois as
below (the blue link) and see for yourself
the expiry date.
|
05.01.04
EU REGISTRY SERVICES:
Another
participant has shown up in the domain
slamming market
- EU Registry Services. Similar to
Domain Registry of America in that they try
to hoodwink the registrant into
thinking their domain is in danger of expiry
and also similar to DRA in that
they have already been subject to sanction
by the authorities. See below for
a link to the article and remember, the safety
of your domain can be checked online in
minutes so don't panic. Just log in to your
account and check the details or
perform a whois as below (the blue link) and
see for yourself the expiry
date.
Click here for
the EU Registry Services article.
To see an example of the EU Registry Services
letter,
click here. |
10.12.03 DATA PROCESSING PROTECTION CORPORATION:
A
new player appears to be on the scene, with "Data Processing Protection
Corporation" attempting to
part you from £95 with the implied threat
that you may not be adhering to
current Data Protection legislation. We contacted
the Data Protection Agency
and they are aware of this company, have no connection
with them whatsoever
and we would advise that any letters received
from them are stapled to your
other junk mail prior to "filing". |
02.10.03 DOMAIN REGISTRY OF AMERICA AND
THEIR ILK:
An increasingly common
domain scam is to contact customers whose
domain is months from expiry and
try to a) deceive them into thinking expiry
is imminent and get them to
renew on the spot and b) get them to buy
domains similar to their own by
inferring a competitor is about to buy it.
In both cases this is a scam.
The expiry date of your domain can be confirmed
either in your controlcentre
account or through one of the many whois
websites (www.whois-search.com is
a useful one) and the scam artists (who often
go
under official sounding names
like Domain Registry of America for example)
often approach the customer
many months prior to expiry. Even if a customer
is worried and renews with
the scammer, the current ISP is under no
obligation to hand control of the
domain over and the customer invariably loses
their money and ends up
renewing for real with their current ISP
some months later.
In cases where similar domain names are offered
with the implication that a
competitor is about to buy it, most people
don't realise that it is illegal
for a competitor to buy a similar domain
and attempt to mimic your business,
and messy and expensive court cases are often
fought over such disputes.
It's not worth the time or money in most
cases and the scammer is inventing
the situation 99% of the time.
Remember that once a domain is bought by
you it remains your property until
some time after expiry and no-one can forcibly
buy it or remove it while it
remains "in date". If you have any
questions about your domain/s or are
worried by any correspondence you receive from
offical sounding companies,
it is always best to contact us or the registry
and check the details of the
domain prior to acting. Regardless of the "last
minute opportunity" that
seems to be going begging it is more often
than not a scam artist trying to
part you from your money.
Domain Registry of America in particular
has already been subject to action
by the Federal Trade commission in the USA
for misrepresentations in their
marketing practices. For more information
see here or here. |
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