ALERT: "Domain Registry" sending Spam Renewal Notices;

"Domain Registry" has been sending notices in the mail to our customers that appear to be an invoice for their domain name renewal. This is a Scam!  Amongst other names they are using include: Domain Registry Services of Canada, Registration Services Incorporated, Domain Registry of Europe, Domain Registry of America, Yellowbusiness.ca, Internet Registry of Canada, Domain Registry of Canada and Domain Registry of Australia". Also email Notices from these companies and others have been on the increase -  eMail Fraud on The Uprise    posted earlier

This misleading practice, known as domain name slamming tries to bedazzle customers and lure them to another domain name registrar. The "Notice of Expiration" sent out from Domain Registry Services urges domain owners that they are at risk of losing their domain name unless their renewed. The deceptive letter appear as an official-looking invoice which looks more like a bill than a notice and gives the impression that a domain name is about to expire. If you have receive a notice from them DO NOT SEND MONEY. It is a scam!! Please forward the email or scan a copy of any mail received and send it to abuse@waltershosting.com

This  company first started sending out fake domain renewal letters to domain holders, using information illegally  harvested from various WHOIS databases in 2002. We are concerned there may be another motive, such as identity theft, behind some of these Web sites.

Related cases;

...Senders of Phony Domain Name Invoices Meet Justice 25-Feb-2005 - Domain Registry of America, based in Ontario, Canada, is prohibited from engaging in similar conduct in the future, and is subject to stringent monitoring by the FTC. The company also has to provide a full refund, including any administrative or cancellation fees, to approximately 50,000 consumers who cancelled a transfer request.

...Nominet wins case against Domain Registry Services - 11-Feb-2005 - Francis-Macrae was found liable of copying and using records from Nominet's WHOIS database to send out fraudulent domain name renewal invoices under the name of 'Domain Registry Services'. He was ordered to pay Nominet costs of £81,000, with damages to be determined at a later date at a hearing at Huntingdon Magistrates Court. Nominet also obtained permanent injunctions preventing Francis-Macrae or his companies from misusing the .uk WHOIS database or trading under the misleading 'Domain Registry Services' name

...The Federal Trade Commission 2003 slaps the Canada-based Domain Registry of America (DROA) on its wrists for - misleading consumers into thinking that they are renewing their registrations with their current registrar when, instead, they are transferring their registrations to DROA's registrar, eNom.

Steps you can take to protect yourself;

When registering or transferring domain names, your name, address, email address and phone number are immediately made available to anyone who wants to see them? Including "Domain Registry Services" and numerous scammers, spammers and fraud artists. Your personal information is exposed 24 hours a day, everyday, to anyone, anywhere.

You have the power to change this. With a private ("unlisted") domain registration and your details will be masked by our partner proxy site. Tell me more

• Limited Time Only - FREE! Private Registration with 5 or more domains. NO QUANTITY LIMIT

• NEW! Protected Domain Name Registration - Find out More  posted earlier