Domain Name Services Scam

I had a good laugh with a recent Scam I just received. The sad part is that although I recognize it for what it is, a scam, I know there are those out there that will fall for it.

So what is the Scam?

This ‘company’ of scammers send out officially looking like invoices to people making it look like you’ve done business with them and owe them moneys.  Their hook is that the invoice is for your soon to expire domain.

The issue is:

  1. You’ve never done business with them
  2. It isn’t for a domain you currently own

Basically, they are scamming you into buying a new domain and I guess this gets them around the law, because they are providing a service to you.  Be it under false pretenses.

This is eerily reminiscent of:

Domain Registry of Canada - a SCAM?
I recently got a letter in the mail from Domain Registry of Canada indicating I had to renew 2 domains. Their letter, and envelop is as close as you can get to resembling official Government of Canada letterhead, but isn’t. Actually what then send out in an invoice for services, for which you have not yet even signed up for! But if you return the letter with payment you are in fact agreeing to switch your business over to them! So what or who is Domain Registry of Canada exactly? They are merely a domain registrar, a company that offer…

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and they use the exact same content!  So this has to be the same group of individuals at it again.

Here’s the letter I received today.

Sadly, they have hidden their own domain registration information.

However, if you check out their website, you’ll get redirected and eventually fall on the following contact info:

Domain Name Services LLC
924 Bergen Avenue
Suite #289
Jersey City, NJ, 07306-3018

Although on the invoice they sent me they have the address as:

Domain Name Services
PO BOX 7211
RPO Warden Centre
Markham, ON L3R 5V1

Heck, their e-mail domain doesn’t even match their website domain, so you know they aren’t legit.

Furthermore, when we do check the registration of the domains: domainservices.us, domainservices.biz both are very recent indicating once again that this is unlikely to be legit!

Anyways, all this to say, any letters/e-mails pressuring you with an imminent deadline, ignore.
Any letters/e-mails referencing unfamiliar domains, ignore.

Please don’t fall for these scams.  Speak to a friend/relative before taking action.

If you do wish to register a Domain, use a reputable domain registrar, not some company sending what appears to be fake invoices, trying to get business by pressuring you with fake deadline!

I just wish the authorities would shut these people down once and for all!

Also, another good resource on the matter is:

Did You Get a Domain Name Services letter in the mail?
Did you receive a suspicious domain name services letter that looks like a bill? Learn how to identify if it’s a scam to protect your domain name & save money.