Domain Name Stealing by Registrars

[Bugalugs]

I buy most of my domains through ReallyCheapNames which is a misnomer as they are not cheaper. They are an onseller for GoDaddy.

Today I went to register three domains and the decided to delete one of them. Accidently deleted the wrong one and went back ( while still on the site) to re-register the one I had accidently deleted.
Of course by now ( a whole one minute later) it was taken and I could back order it if I wanted it. Did a "who is" and the purchase price was $295.
WTF ! A***oles !

Am sitting here with steam coming out of my ears. It was such a great name.
My fault for not paying attention to what I was deleting but hell it should have still been there a minute later. This is a really shitty practice.

 

[WizGizmo]

Yes . . . NetworkSolutions and GoDaddy have been reported as doing the same thing in the recent past.

It's a jungle out there . . . That's for sure

"Wiz"

 

[Bugalugs]

Yes Wiz while I sit here fuming I have calmed down thinking of all the "discounted" products I have got from this wonderful forum ! I really like this part of the jungle !
Guess what goes around comes around !

 

[xyberk]

That happened once to me too. Stop fuming and go back to work.

 

[Bugalugs]

That happened once to me too. Stop fuming and go back to work.

Yep slowly calming down....now I am only stewing as we say out here ! LOL
Worked my way around the name problem with a little additive but still not as good as the original I had chosen.
Will just work harder to make it pay !

Good list of additives on this site

http://www.internetmarketingbasicsonline.com/choosing-a-domain-name/

 

[gregstereo]

Yep, netsol was flat out busted doing this (front running) a few years ago - with every single fockering available name people searched for via their whois (they basically were doing catch and release - you searched for a name, if it was not regg'ed and you did not register it, they registered it and then, for most of the names, they canceled the reg within the cancellation window)

GD has been suspected and accused of doing it many times over the years, but they are so big and murky with various subsidiaries and affiliates who really knows IMHO

Other registrars, same thing...registrars really are like the mafia.

Anyone who has read some of my posts knows I am as much if not more paranoid then the next tinfoil hat wearer, but something to consider is this: each registrar has an account with each of the registries they register names through. They have to pay a small fee out of this account balance for each name they register - even if it's only snapped and dropped within the few days that you have to cancel a hand reg (they get the money back after they drop the name, but for a few days they are out that money).

So when netsol was putting holds on every damned name, they were burning through their escrow accounts pretty fast.

Just a thought....in general, with registrars it's like Obi-Wan said....You will never see a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Don't do your availability checks or whois searches via registrars.

 

[blackhit]

They have to pay a small fee out of this account balance for each name they register - even if it's only snapped and dropped within the few days that you have to cancel a hand reg (they get the money back after they drop the name, but for a few days they are out that money).

So...a dictionary file with 2 million phrases + an imacro or bot would give them a couple of days to reconsider there business model while eating stale bread and drinking tap water...

 

[gregstereo]

So...a dictionary file with 2 million phrases + an imacro or bot would give them a couple of days to reconsider there business model while eating stale bread and drinking tap water...

ding ding ding winner! :congrats:

That was one thing I saw bandied about in some circles when netsol was doing it. And I think it is the primary reason they stopped - yeah, they got some negative press, but I have cause to believe they either:
a - realised the severe and dramatic downside it could have on their escrow account(s); or
b- they actually had someone do something like that.

Countermeasures are in place, but it's all really games of cat and mouse, innit?

If a registrar were to burn their entire escrow account @ a major registry....it would take some time for them to recover....

 

[shudogg]

so...a dictionary file with 2 million phrases + an imacro or bot would give them a couple of days to reconsider there business model while eating stale bread and drinking tap water...:d

lmfao!

 

[CyrusVirus]

Yes . . . NetworkSolutions and GoDaddy have been reported as doing the same thing in the recent past.

It's a jungle out there . . . That's for sure

"Wiz"

yup.. i searched for my domain i wanted last week and when i went to buy it today.. it was registered by proxy something or another.. along with 870 other domains today.. so they stole my domain just so later on when i need to buy it i have to backorder probably

 

[thesuvo]

yesterday name.com steal domains from my cart.

 

[HoNeYBiRD]

yup.. i searched for my domain i wanted last week and when i went to buy it today.. it was registered by proxy something or another.. along with 870 other domains today.. so they stole my domain just so later on when i need to buy it i have to backorder probably

yesterday name.com steal domains from my cart.

here comes gregstereo into the picture with this wise suggestion:

Don't do your availability checks or whois searches via registrars.

 

[Markbh]

I've seen the same happen on GoDaddy! I search for a name; want to register it a few days later and it's gone. And as a rule, a site is not built, but it stays parked with GDaddy. If you let it drop, then GD will not let you recover it moments later. However, I have had contrary, i.e. very good experience with Namecheap. I have let my various parked domain names expire 3 times and every single time, they said "Act, quick, while it's with us, and we'll reinstate it". And true it was, as soon as the regular annual fee (~$10) was paid, I got the names back. But as we know, an exception proves the rule.

 

[csc0430]

Heard that calling the registrar (as soon as you have noticed it) will get them to release it for the original domain name costs. They feign ignorance (technical glitch) or offer a lame reason (holding it for you). I have not personally done it though.

Thanks gregstereo for the idea of NOT using a registrar - something so simple, and yet I have never thought of doing it

 

[grabdavid]

Registrar's and hosting companies worst nightmare is pissing off some blackhat seo dudes.

We have power.

"Spam bad press"

you can even create google suggest results for companies by using proxies on google search. of cause create the "Go Daddy Scam" pages first " 1oo or so on review sites and web 2.0 sites. even register a domain godaddyscam.com i am sure they will want to buy this off you in return for you domain

easy to get companies back.

I often threaten companies when ever they rip me off.

Very quickly i get a refunds.

 

[monsur]

Sorry to hear.
Here is some more information like that at nodaddydotcom

 

[SEOSage]

Its a very common practice and I have seen it happening from every other place. Search for any domain.. come back after 3 days and for sure you wont find it. I missed so many great names in the past..

Lesson learnt.. I dont search unless I am going to buy. I buy immediately when I find it.