Another Domain Scam

Both we and our clients have recently received emails from a company in Hong Kong. These emails make out that they are from a registrar of domain names in Hong Kong that is seeking to protect the recipient from a third party who is intending to purchase domain names in various geographies that relate to your company.

For example, for us they might register mrmediagroup.asia or mrmediagroup.com.cn.

These requests are coercion to get you to register these domains with the implied threat that if you don't they'll register them and potentially use them against you. We've found them from a variety of names, all originating from two Hong Kong based companies:

• www.worldwidenic.org
• www.hk-net.hk

Our clients have all responded as we expected, by informing them that full use of legal channels would be made for any infringements of copyright, trademarks or IP.

If you are concerned about this, we can help you pre-emptively register domains. Feel free to contact us

Warning on Scam Domain Renewals

We've recently received a letter on behalf of a client regarding domain renewals. We also received a second directly to us for one of our own domains. These letters were from "The Domain Renewal Group" and appear official looking. See the picture below:

The letter goes on to ask that the domain owner subject a fee payable by cheque for renewal of the domain. This fee, substantially above what we charge, should not be submitted. We automatically renew our clients' domains on their behalf an invoice them electronically.

Sending payment to this company may cause your domain to be transferred. This may cause interruptions to your online services, such as your website becoming unavailable and your email ceasing to work.

If you are in doubt, please feel free to contact us.