"Doman Renewal Group" Scam

[Neko]

Had this one turn up in our office post today...

Domain Renewal Group will send you a reminder letter when your domain name is due to expire. And it will look and awful lot like they're your current host asking if you'd like to renew for the next year. There's even a tear-off payment slip at the bottom.

In most cases, they won't actually be your current host: it's just a nasty trick to make you send £25 (a rip off price!) to them, then they will actually transfer the domain to themselves, thus enabling them to keep hitting you with charges year after year.

Very dirty tactics, and very hard to fight once you've fallen for it because they do actually do what they say they will do. Just for 3x the price you should pay.

Fortunately we spotted this one for the scam it is, but just one to be on the lookout for if you own any domain names!

[Jimmy]

I guess this is where domain privacy is a good thing to have.

[Neko]

Can't have it for a company site however, only allowed for individuals.