someone is purchasing variants of my domain :(

bart0r · #1 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 12:46 PM

I was just contacted by a company who said variations of my domain are in the process of being purchased.
Alarm bells started ringing straight away, I thought this is a silly obvious scam and she’s going to ask if I wanted to buy them. In the end she actually said the opposite and said the gentlemen (gave me a name i didn’t recognise) had already gave them their credit card details and his transaction is going through their system and theres nothing I could do about it.

Theresa lot of variations, including .info .net and a couple of word variations. Is there anything else I can do short of keeping an eye on the domains?

The lady said that he’s asked for all the domains to be redirected to his site, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

danlefree · #2 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 02:25 PM

Why would anyone go out of his or her way to tell you that similar domains were being registered if it were not a scam?

I am not seeing the financial motivation for someone whom you do not know to get in contact with you regarding domains which you do not own.

thindenim · #3 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 04:49 PM

99.99% sure she is trying to panic you into offering her more money for the domains. I've had these kind of calls loads of times over the years.

If you are so worried just go and register the domains yourself as I'm certain they won't have been registered already.

bart0r · #4 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 08:03 PM

well, there was no pitch for any kind of money, not even a question to say "we can register them for you if you like".
The lady said she was genuinly concerned as the bloke was quite rude and made a point he was nothing to do with our business.

The lady gave me all the domain names and told me to keep an eye on them.
Could be a computer?

dbramley · #5 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 11:40 AM

Every domain registrar I've ever used has been fully automated and no one has ever spoken to me / asked me what or why I was registering certain domains so something sounds suspicious straight away.

thindenim · #6 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 11:52 AM

exactly, go and register them yourself - they will be available. It's a scam.

AnyDemo · #7 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 01:01 AM

Hi,

This is absolutely a scam!! They will never inform you if the domain names are good. Of course, when your website becomes very popular and famous in the future, you have to register other extensions as well.

Best regards