The Domain Registry of America Scam

I got another ‘invoice’ from these sleazeballs today. In my opinion, sending out an invoice like this to someone who’s not your customer is something only a sleazeball would do. Some of what they write in the ‘invoice’ is obviously meant to scaremonger. They write “you must renew your domain name to retain exclusive rights to it on the Web.” Well, that’s technically true, but it’s not their place to inform you of it, and they obviously intend you to think that you better pay them or you’ll lose the domain. They also write “Failure to renew yourdomain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web.”

They do add a couple of things to keep their ‘invoice’ technically true. For example, they state that “now is the time to transfer and renew your name from your current Registrar” thus technically stating that they’re not your current registrar. However, they don’t explain why you should transfer to them, and the placement of the wording may indicate that you’ll lose rights to your domain if you don’t transfer it to them.

Their rates are rather steep too, at $25 a month they’re about three times the price you can find at many other places. I’d like to caution anyone reading this to question any invoice you receive when you don’t recognize the company that’s sending you the bill. Just because they know your domain name, doesn’t mean they’re the ones you should pay. Domain registration information is easily found online by anyone.