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Old 06-06-2013, 03:47 AM   #1
littlebigman
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Question Is a domain name safe from a foreign registrar?


Hello

This question is not specifically Linux-related, but I didn't know where else to ask and assume there must be people here who would know.

I registered and used a domain name for years, and received this e-mail from a Chinese registrar:
Quote:
We are a registration agency of Asian Domain Registration Organization in China. I have something to confirm with you. We formally received an application on June 6, 2013 that a company which self-styled "HangDa International Co.,Ltd" were applying to register "MYDOMAIN" as their brand name and some domain names through our firm.

Now we are handling this registration, and after our initial checking, we found the name were similar to your company's, so we need to check with you whether your company has authorized that company to register these names. If you authorized this, we will finish the registration at once. If you did not authorize, please let us know within 7 workdays, so that we will handle this issue better. Out of the time limit we will unconditionally finish the registration for "HangDa International Co.,Ltd".
I seem to understand that registrars send an e-mail that the owner must respond to before a domain name is allowed to change hands.

Is my domain name safe while it's hosted at a US registrar, or can that Chinese registrar somehow grab it from me?

Thank you.
 
Old 06-06-2013, 04:00 AM   #2
ButterflyMelissa
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It's a hoax. If you have the domain before the others, it's yours, that simple. What I read from this is a phishing attempt. Is there a link in the mail that "invites" you to verify some details? If so, dont venture there.
There will always be "organisations" that try to hop onto a domain for whatever purpose they need...

There's a good give-away: language. Is the English proper? Is the naming verifiable?

Quote:
Is my domain name safe while it's hosted at a US registrar, or can that Chinese registrar somehow grab it from me?
Thus, in one simple answer: yes, it is safe, and no, they cannot just grab the domain. Keep paying the dues to the company you registred with, though

Luck be yours!

Thor

Edit:

Some "red flags:

Quote:
we found the name were similar
Improper English, this (if that company were legit) should have read

Quote:
we found the names were similar
Quote:
Out of the time limit we will unconditionally finish the registration for "HangDa International Co.,Ltd".
Pressure on the recipient (besides the yet more poor English). There's no way that you can "silently agree" with this. YOU need to agree ACTIVELY to this. Just letting it be does not allow them to steal your domain. Go check this with your registrar, they'll say something similar...as long as YOU dont agree to this, nothing moves...

Had the same situation way back when...it's muscle-rolling from their part...

Edit2 : if it is a legit company, it may politely try to buy your domain, offer a price or something, or, if they've got smart, choose a different name...it's cheaper and easier that way...

Last edited by ButterflyMelissa; 06-06-2013 at 04:10 AM.
 
Old 06-06-2013, 12:24 PM   #3
littlebigman
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Thanks. The e-mail seems legit, but maybe they think I'll just give up my domain name just like that.
 
Old 06-06-2013, 01:20 PM   #4
suicidaleggroll
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http://www.hoax-slayer.com/domain-na...ion-scam.shtml
http://www.welivesecurity.com/2012/0...-going-strong/
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/...ad.php?t=58331
http://wtf.ronowicker.com/asian-doma...stration-scam/

A Google search for

Asian Domain Registration Organization

yields hundreds of spam reports

Last edited by suicidaleggroll; 06-06-2013 at 01:27 PM.
 
Old 06-06-2013, 03:26 PM   #5
jefro
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Kind of hard to say. I'd suspect a scam but it would be proper to investigate this.

It could be that you have some control over how close another domain name is to your domain name.
 
Old 06-07-2013, 02:26 AM   #6
ButterflyMelissa
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Quote:
Thanks. The e-mail seems legit, but maybe they think I'll just give up my domain name just like that.
Yup...they roll their muscles and expect you to roll over and play dead. Dont. It's your domaim, period.
But, it has to be said, the first time (or timeS) you get a mail like that is scary...enough to give you sleepless nights...glad to have helped!

Thor
 
Old 06-07-2013, 07:10 AM   #7
littlebigman
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Thanks for the info.
 
Old 06-07-2013, 05:55 PM   #8
ButterflyMelissa
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Hey...you're welcome, moreover, I (and everyone else) hope to have put your mind at rest. If you do want to make sure, check the subscriptions you have. My provider has a control panel per domain, and a LivePerson chat session...
After all, that too, is what your registrat is payed for
 
  


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