I got a suspicious email and it reminded me that that it’s time to alert readers to web tricks. These tricks aren’t the ones to make a website faster or more engaging. Nope, these tricks are to part you from your hard earned money and valuable time.
In 2008 I posted a tip “Watch Those Expiration Notices” that warned that the domain registration you received in the mail is likely not from your site’s domain registrar at all!
This week it’s an email from China. They warn that there is a “Dispute” over my dot-com name. They spin a yarn that a foreign corporation wants to buy nine variations of one of my domain names. They must be a mega-buck entrepreneur because the list includes the domain with country extensions for Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as several other countries. The emailer offers to help me protect my interests and save my treasured domain from infringements.
I have to insert a little sarcasm here: I’m sure they are going to help me out of the kindness of their heart or at a fair and reasonable price; no strings attached.
The truth is that you don’t need multiple domains. Your domain registration is not tied to your copyright or trademark, so there’s nothing to be infringed. No reputable domain hosting company will send you a letter for renewal, nor will they send an email notifying you that variations of your domain have been purchased.
The answer for these notices is NO ANSWER. Simply do not respond.
