Hardly a week goes by that I don't get a call or e-mail from someone that has gotten an "invoice" from the Domain Registry of America, telling them that if they don't renew their domain name, they will lose it. Did I mention that the Domain Registry of America (which is based in Canada) is SCUM? Here's the scam they pull: 1. They send out official looking invoices to domain owners, usually about three months before their domain name needs to be renewed. 2. Unfortunately, many people go ahead and pay the "invoice". This authorizes the Domain Registry of America to transfer the domain registration to THEM and therefore continue to bill you in the future. 3. Most people pay with a check. If you attempt to stop the process after paying with a check, the Domain Registry of America *will* cancel the transfer, BUT they charge a fee to do so! (Kinda like a scam within a scam.) Here's a link to additional info on the scam: http://www.whois.sc/news/2003-12/registry-america.html Here's what the Domain Registry of America "invoice" looks like: So, if you have a registered domain name, be on the lookout for these fake invoices.
The letter is clear. No scam--no scum. Besides, anyone who would pay that much for a year of registry has more money than sense anyway. Only someone who knows little about domain registry would be taken by this.
As someone who has had to deal regularly with people who have been misled by the Registry, I'll stand by the "scam and scum" statements. "The Federal Trade Commission has requested that a federal district court enjoin Domain Registry of America, Inc., an Internet domain name re-seller, from making misrepresentations in the marketing of its domain name registration services and require it to pay redress to consumers. According to the FTC, the company told consumers that their domain registrations were expiring, leading many consumers unwittingly to switch their domain name registrar. The company also allegedly did not disclose that it would charge a processing fee to consumers if their transfer request was not competed – for any reason – and failed to provide consumers refunds in a timely manner." Their business practices are the same as fly by night repair contractors that show up after Florida hurricanes and rip people off. Google "Domain Registry of America" and you'll find little to like or support about them. They are bottom feeders.
