Yet another attempt to part fools from their money.
Today I got an email from Domain Services
It included a big fancy “notice” with one of my domain names and the information I provided when I registered it years ago. Here’s the meat of the message:
Attn: FLYING M PRODUCTIONS|MARIA LANGER
As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration and save.Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web.
Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine subscription includes domain name search engine submission. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated below unless you accept this offer. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your customers can locate you on the web.
This Notice for: WWW.ARIZONAPHOTOADVENTURES.COM will expire on January 18,2012 Act today!
So if I don’t “register” with these people by tomorrow, this offer may be canceled, making it difficult for my customers to locate me on the web? Yeah, right.
But here’s the punchline — the payment schedule:
Good thing they told me which was most recommended. I think I’ll write a check out to them right now!
Not.
Those of you who, like me, recognize a scam when you see one might be wondering why I’m blogging about such an obvious example of a ripoff. Well sadly not everyone recognizes email messages like this as scams. I’ve actually gotten calls from friends and family members asking me what they should do when they get crap like this in email.
And, believe it or not, the blog posts I write about scams are surprisingly popular. People get email like this, are not sure what to do, and Google it. What do they find? Among other things, they find me telling them not to get ripped off.
Don’t get ripped off. Don’t let scammers scare you into paying them money for no reason. Mark this email as junk and don’t give it a second glance.
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I was going to write about this Scam, but after googling it, there seems to be dozens of reports floating around for at least 3 years, but I’ve not seen anything about them being shut down. I’ve take the liberty of sending a complaint to my local attorney general, ICAAN, the FCC, and the legal department of codero.com which seem to be the origination of the one I received. I’m going to continue to google and see if there are any other departments that might be involved in taking action against what to me is an obvious scam, despite their attempts at disclosure. Thanks Maria
I like to blog about scams so that when people Google for more information, they find information to help protect them. Scammers never seem to get shut down. It’s really unfortunate because too many people get sucked in and ripped off. It’s up to us to do what we can to educate folks who really don’t know any better.
Thanks for informing people about this spam. We did not understand from the email if it was something about it / official or not.
Hi, I received one of these today, more than a year on! I knew it was a scam but there was one part of me that said ‘check the date’ and when I saw the payment schedule… laughable. Thanks for blogging about it.
It really bugs me that we are constantly bombarded with scams. I try to report most of the ones I get. Glad you didn’t get scammed!
I received this as well. There is no way to stop the emails.
http://www.newsreporter.in/fake-domain-renewal-fraud-by-domain-services-inc-83631
They are again doing it, in December 2014! Same people, same text, two day notice to accept, but my wifes’ website is hosted at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Long reach for a scam! BTW, best wishes, pilot!
Sadly, they’ll keep doing it until it stops working. There’s always another sucker out there. :-(
Here is a slightly altered version of the same scam. As the original post states, this actually works or people wouldn’t keep doing it: Attention: Important Notice , DOMAIN SERVICE NOTICE
Domain Name: domainname.com
ATT: WHOISGUARD PROTECTED
REGISTRANT CONTACT: +507.8365503
domainname.com
Response Requested By
24 – September – 2015
PART I: REVIEW NOTICE
Attn: WHOISGUARD PROTECTED
As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration.
Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web.
Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine registration includes domain name search engine submission. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your customers can locate you on the web.
This Notice for: domainname.com will expire at 11:59PM USA, 24 – September – 2015 Act now!
Select Term and Package Here
Payment by Credit/Debit Card
Select the term using the link above by 24 – September – 2015
domainname.com
——————————————————————————————-
The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged information from the notification processing department of the ListingRegDom 1521 Alton Road Suite #464, Miami Beach, FL 33139 USA, This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. If you do not wish to receive further updates from ListingRegDom Unsubscribe here. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents for this letter is strictly prohibited.