Beware of domain renewal scams that email out "reminders" for the renewal of domains that you own, but which in fact are scams that will charge you up to 7 or 8 times normal renewal prices.
DOMAIN SERVICES is a company that send out spam to domain owners, probably using illegally harvested domain contact info from whois records, which tries to trick recipients into renewing their domain names at exorbitant prices, and probably involving a transfer to a new domain register.
In this case, the sender leave only a snail-mail address which you can see below — no email except a temporary hotmail address and no website. These guys are trying to keep a very low profile.
What is so annoying about this sort of scam is that it is not illegal — Domain Services are not doing anything technically wrong as they give full notice of the prices that they are offering. That said, in their latest emails they are stating -
This
Notice for: WWW.XXXXXXXX.COM will expire on February XX, 2012 Act today!
and this was for a domain that actually expires in 2018!! The wording is ambiguous especially with the punctuation, and so we can only conclude that this is deliberate obscurification. And to that the subject line of the spam email -
Domain Notification: JOHN SMITH This is your Final Notice of Domain Listing - XXXXXXXXX.COM
and you can see that this is clearly intended to trick receivers into thinking that their domain is about to expire and needs renewing immediately (at extortionate prices).
By sending out thousands of mail-merged emails from harvested domain records, this Domain Services are likely to get a significant percentage falling for this scam.
Our advice... make sure your domains are always on auto-renew with a reputable domain website. You can also write down expiry dates in your online calendar to remind yourself to check it has successfully been renewed.
The spam email below sender address is -
support@codero.com
which implies that this renewal scam is linked with Codero (www.codero.com), a domain hosting site owned by APH Inc. in Kansas, USA. This could be a false header so we are not 100% sure of Codero's involved.
Here is a cut and past of their latest (Feb 2012) spam email:
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Attention: Important
Notice |
DOMAIN SERVICE
NOTICE |
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Complete and return by
fax to:
1 (646)
783-3687
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2885 Sanford Ave SW
Suite # 19746
Grandville, MI 49418
United States of America |
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ATT:
John Smith
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT
-
johnsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.COM
xxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx
UK
-
WWW.XXXXXXXXXX.COM
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Domain Name:
XXXXXXXX.COM
Search Engine Submission
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Requested Reply
FEBRUARY xx,2012 |
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PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION |
Attn: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
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.XXXXXXXX.COM will expire on February XX, 2012 Act today!
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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DETAIL OF SERVICE:
ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE
SUBMISSION FOR DOMAIN NAME
WWW.XXXXXXX.COM |
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Detail of Service:
SEARCH SUBMISSIONS |
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Reply by Date:
02/XX/2012 |
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For Domain Name:
XXXXXXXXX.COM |
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Select
Term |
Your
Existing Domain |
Period
Covered |
Price |
|
| |
XXXXXXXXXX.COM |
|
|
| [ ] 1 year |
|
02/XX/2012 - 02/XX/2013 |
$75.00 |
| [ ] 2 year |
|
02/XX/2012 - 02/XX/2014 |
$119.00 |
| [ ] 5 year |
|
02/XX/2012 - 02/XX/2017 |
$199.00 |
| [ ] 10 year |
-Most Recommended- |
02/XX/2012
- 02/XX/2022 |
$295.00 |
| [ ] Lifetime (NEW!) |
Limited time offer - Best value! |
Lifetime |
$499.00 |
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| |
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Please ensure that your contact
information is correct or make the necessary changes. |
|
Full
Name:
John Smith
|
Email:
XXX@XXXXXXXXXXD.COM
Email 2:
____________________
Phone:
_____________________ |
Want to receive this
notification for other
domains you own? simply list
them below:
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________ |
|
Today's Date: _____________________ |
Signature:
_____________________ |
|
|
|
Payment by
Credit Card
PLEASE
COMPLETE
AND RETURN BY FAX: 1 (646) 783-3687
(Please do not include your credit card number on this
form just fill the information above and fax it to us, once we receive your fax we will send you instructions on how to make a payment
by credit card) |
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XXXXXXXXXXXX.COM
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|
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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By
accepting this offer, you agree not to hold DS liable for any
part. Note that THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a
solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the
amounts stated unless you accept this offer. The information
in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged
information from the notification processing department of the
DS. This information is intended only for the use of the
individual(s) named above. There is no pre-existing
relationship between DS and the domain mentioned above.
This notice is not in any part associated with a continuation
of services for domain registration. Search engine
submission is an optional service that you can use as a part
of your website optimization and alone may not increase the
traffic to your site. If you do not wish to receive
further updates from DS send an email
to unsubscribe@sesubmission.com and in the subject line only put
remove to unsubscribe. 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. * 100% satisfaction
guaranteed, you may request a refund within 30 days. |
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Older version:
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Attention: Important
Notice |
DOMAIN SERVICE
NOTICE |
|
Complete and return by
fax to:
1-646-385-7542
|
|
47-47 36th Street #16452
Long Island City, NY 11101
United States of America |
|
ATT: XXX XXXXXXXXX
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXX@XXXXXXXXX.COM
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX
XXXXXXX, XXX XXX
XX
Phone:
XX.XXXXXXXXXX
WWW.XXXXXXXXX.com
|
Domain Name:
XXXXXXXXX.COM
Search Engine Submission
|
Requested Reply
October XX,2009 |
|
|
PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION |
Attn: XXX XXXXXXXXX
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.XXXXXXXXX.COM will expire on Xxxxxxx XX,2009 Act today!
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
DETAIL OF SERVICE:
ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE
SUBMISSION FOR DOMAIN NAME
WWW.XXXXXXXXX.COM |
|
|
Detail of Service:
SEARCH SUBMISSIONS |
|
|
Reply by Date:
XX/XX/2009 |
|
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For Domain Name:
XXXXXXXXX.COM |
|
|
*100% SATISFACTION IS
GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK |
|
Select
Term |
Your
Existing Domain |
Period
Covered |
Price |
|
| |
XXXXXXXXX.COM |
|
|
| [ ] 1 year |
|
XX/XX/2009 - XX/XX/2010 |
$75.00 |
| [ ] 2 year |
|
XX/XX/2009 - XX/XX/2011 |
$119.00 |
| [ ] 5 year |
|
XX/XX/2009 - XX/XX/2014 |
$199.00 |
| [ ] 10 year |
-Most Recommended- |
XX/XX/2009 - XX/XX/2019 |
$295.00 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Please ensure that your contact
information is correct or make the necessary changes. |
|
Full
Name:
XXX XXXXXXXXX
|
Email:
XXX@XXXXXXXXX.COM
Email 2:
Phone:
_____________________
|
|
Today's Date: _____________________ |
Signature:
_____________________ |
|
|
|
Option 1:
Payment by
Credit Card (Recommended -
Quickest way)
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BY FAX: 1-646-385-7542 |
|
|
Option 2:
Payment by Check or Money Order
Print and mail a copy of this order
form along with a check or money order to the address listed
below:
Domain Services
47-47 36th Street
#16452
Long Island City, NY 11101
United States of America
Please do not forget to include a copy of this order form
along with your payment!
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
By accepting this offer, you agree not to
hold DN liable for any part. Note that THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a
solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts
stated unless you accept this offer. The information in this letter
contains confidential and/or legally privileged information from the
notification processing department of the DN. This information
is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. There
is no pre-existing relationship between DN and the domain mentioned
above. This notice is
not in any part associated with a continuation of services for domain
registration. Search engine submission is an optional service
that you can use as a part of your website optimization and alone may
not increase the traffic to your site. If you
do not wish to receive further updates from DN send an email to
wdsrv7861@operamail.com to unsubscribe. 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. * 100% satisfaction
guaranteed, you may request a refund within 30 days. |
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