What
Is Domain Name Slamming
What Is Domain Name Slamming
Today I received a notice in the mail claiming that my domain name
was about to expire. The letter was written in extremely alarming
terms, as if my entire world would be destroyed forever if I was
stupid enough to allow the name to expire.
The letter made it clear that I could renew immediately and should,
because if the domain expired I would, of course, lose it and thus
life as I knew it would come to a close.
Closer examination revealed that the document was not from my domain
registrar at all. In fact, it was from some company that I had never
heard of before. The letter certainly looked official
and important, but in reality it was just more junk mail.
Okay, first question: how had these idiots gotten my home address?
Simple. As it turns out, this is a common practice among some of
the less ethical domain registrars. Using the WHOIS database, they
get a list of all of the domain names about to expire, then send
a letter to each address explaining this fact and offering to renew
the domain.
The WHOIS database is a list of each domain name that exists on
the internet, along with the name and address (and some other information)
of each owner. This information is public knowledge, freely available
to anyone.
What would have happened if I had sent a check to the domain registrar
to pay for a renewal? It would have been transferred to the new
registrar. If I had not read the letter carefully, I probably would
not have realized that I was not just renewing my domain, I was
transferring my domain to a new registrar.
In some instances worse things happen. You could receive an email
in your inbox, for example, making the same claim: your domain is
about to expire. Click on a link and you've given (unknowingly)
permission for your domain to be transferred. A few days later you
might discover your web site not working, your email turned off
and your domain information completely unavailable.
This is called "domain name slamming", and it is named
after the practice that some highly unethical long distance phone
companies employ. These companies will, at the least provocation,
change your phone company to themselves. You could cash a check,
return a
post card or use any number of other means to "give permission"
to change. Some of the most unethical companies have been known
to just change your service without even asking.
The moral of the story? Keep good records of where your domain
names are registered. If you do get an email or a letter, go directly
to your domain registrar's web site and renew the domain yourself.
Don't click anything in the email, respond or send back a letter.
Just go to the web site and renew. This way you can be sure you
understand exactly what is happening, and this way you can be positive
that nothing else is occurring.
And oh yes, stay away from those registrars who engage in this
practice. At least, that's my humble advice. I find the whole tactic
unethical in the extreme, and personally, I will go to
extremes to not do business with any registrar who slams.
About the Author Richard Lowe Jr. is
the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets at http://www.internet-tips.net
- Visit our website any time to read over 1,000 complete FREE articles
about how to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
|
