Want an Example of Everything That Is Wrong in This World? Domain Registry of America Does Us the Honors.
This scam is very basic. Domain Registry of America sends out millions of these domain expiration notices. The trouble is, if you receive one, your domain isn’t registered with them. Back in the early 2000’s they used to send out notices that looked exactly like a bill. It was only by reading the fine print on the back did you learn that they were in fact NOT your domain registrar and by paying the “bill” you were actually authorizing to transfer your domain to them. To add insult to injury, the new fees were usually double the cost of what you were paying at your current registrar.
This scam was so blatantly deceptive that in December 2003 the FTC slapped their wrist and they were forced to give a token amount of refunds and tweak their advertising a bit. In my opinion they should of had their corporate charter revoked and the CEO thrown in jail. Of course, this is America, so no such thing happened.
So here’s what their notices look like now. Hardly and improvement. If you get one of these, please just recycle it.
So this is the new and improved Domain Registry of America scam letter. They fiddled with the wording a bit, but it's still the same goal: to trick you into tranfering your domain to them at the outrageous price of $30 per year. That's even more than the scumball predators over at Network Solutions!
File Under: Domain Registration Scams – Domain transfer Scams – Domain Registry of America Sucks – Enom Domain Registration Scam – DRoA Ripoff
Tim Arguien
2 months ago
I am in the middle of getting hit by this scam. I manage a website for my wife’s company. They received this “renewal notice” and unfortunately did not contact me before paying it. Went with the 5year plan too. So now since I am the administrative email contact I am getting the requests for “EPP Key/Authorization Code from your current registrar” every couple days.
I know I can just disregard these and leave my domain locked with my current provider, but we are out $95 and this should not be allowed to continue! What a dishonest scam! I want to hurt this company.
What would it take to shut them down for good? I live near Buffalo NY, not that location matters, but I read somewhere they are operating out of Buffalo now.
Disgruntled and ready to do something about it.
Tim
J Lancashire
3 weeks ago
August 2010 this scam is still very much alive, a client has just forwarded an email requesting an EPP key (see below).
When are the relevent authorities going to stand up and put these people where they belong as they are nothing but fraudsters trying to extract money from people. These people have been playing this game for over eight years, enough is enough.
> The transfer and renewal of your domain name, *********.com, is not
> yet complete because your domain name is currently in a
> “REGISTRAR-LOCK” status with your current registrar TUCOWS INC.
>
> In order to complete the transfer and renewal, the “REGISTRAR-LOCK”
> status needs to be removed and an EPP Key/Authorization code needs to
> be obtained. Please see below for instructions on achieving this.
>
> Solution:
> – Log into your account with your current registrar, and change the
> status of your domain, hillsdonpm.com, from “locked” to “active”.
> – Then look for the EPP Key or Authorization Code.
>
> – Alternatively you may call your current registrar, TUCOWS INC. (see
> phone
> number below) and ask them to remove the lock status of your domain name,
> give you your EPP Key and allow the transfer to Domain Registry of
> America.
>
> – Once done please notify us that you have done so, by calling our
> toll-free
> number below. We will then re-attempt the transfer and renewal of your
> domain name.
>
> As a convenience, we have supplied your current registrars phone
> number below.
>
> Domain: *********.com
> Current Registrar: TUCOWS INC.
> Registrar Phone Number: 800-371-6992 (Toll Free) or 416-535-0123
> (Local)
>
> Transfer Department
> Domain Registry of America
> Toll free 1-866-434-0212 or for International Callers, dial
> +1(905)479-2533
>
> 8/6/2010 4:00:42 AM
Tom
2 weeks ago
File a complaint with the FTC or else the scam will go on forever. DRoA appear to be in violation of the 2003 settlement with the FTC and the FTC needs to follow up… https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/