The scambase widens
Remember that old scam where that lancashire based company calls up bed and breakfast owners, preferably elderly ones and tells them that someone is about to register their domain name, but if they pay immediately they can get in there first and secure the domain names themselves? They then proceed to sell the hapless business owner a raft of useless and overpriced domain names.
Well the Chinese have caught onto this one, and are practicing it worldwide now, targetting businesses of all sizes.
Of course there is nothing really illegal in this scam. Like many scams, it justs targets the foolish and the inexperienced. If you believe that Liza represents some official domain name registration body in China then you will probably believe that Liza is really Liza too.
I don't know if this one will turn out like some of the 419 scams, where replying to one email just starts their processes rolling and before you know it, heavies are at your door looking for your chequebook.
But don't be tempted to reply. Just delete them, don't be daft. If anyone wants to buy your domain name in China, do you really think they'd ask you first?
Here's an example one of our customers received recently.
Name: Liza Ding
Company: Asia Domain Name Registration Limited
E-mail: Liza@asiadns.net.cn
Telephone: background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;852 3background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;59 3background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;57
Message:
Dear CEO,
We are the domain name registration organization in Asia, deal with the domain name registration and dispute internationally. Now we have something important need to confirm with your company.
On the Feb 4, 2background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;8, we received an application formally. One company named "Mic-firstone International Holdings Ltd " wanted to register following
Domain names:
yourdomain.cn
yourdomain.com.cn
yourdomain.net.cn
yourdomain.org.cn
yourdomain.com.hk
yourdomain.hk
yourdomain.cc
yourdomain.tw
yourdomain.com.tw
yourdomain.mobi
yourdomain.asia
Internet brand keyword:
yourdomain
through our body.
After our initial examination, we found that the keywords and domain names applied for registration are as same as your company's name and trademark. We don't know whether you have any relation with them. These days we are dealing with it. Now we have not finished the registration of Mic-firstone International Holdings Ltd yet, in order to deal with this issue better, Please contact us by telephone or email as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
Liza Ding
_______________________________
Asia Domain Name Registration Limited
Tel:background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;852 3background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;59 3background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;57
Fax:background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;852 3background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;59 3background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;8background-color: #b7c3cf; -moz-border-radius: 10px; min-height: 20px; width: 575px; font-weight: normal; padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;
Email:Liza@asiadns.net.cn
Web:www.asiadnr.net www.domaininasia.org
