Domain Renewal Group scam

**Noel** · #1 (**permalink**) 30-01-2009, 17:29

I keep getting official looking domain renewal notices in the post from a dodgy company called Domain Renewal Group.

The notices are dressed up to look like Invoices but if you read carefully it's just an invitation to transfer the domain them. They ask for £20 to renew a .net domain for 1 year (instead of the usual £6 charged by EUKHost).

It's obvious that they are hoping that some busy person will just send payment, thinking that it is an invoice, without reading it properly.

Is there nothing that can be done to stop these scam artists?

**texterted** · #2 (**permalink**) 30-01-2009, 17:42

You can pay for "domain privacy" for .com, .net etc.
For .co.uk you can "hide" your personal information if you are a private individual.

Otherwise, not a right lot else... report them to trading standards maybe? Probably based outside the UK anyway?

Ho hum...

**Site** · #3 (**permalink**) 30-01-2009, 21:08

Hi,
These letters are sometimes sent out by real companies trying to persuade you to transfer your domain to them, + the fee is usually higher.

The best thing to do is renew your domain weeks before with your current provider and check there is a registrar lock in place.

**WelshTom** · #4 (**permalink**) 30-01-2009, 21:11

I get hundreds of these a year. Get the return envelope, and post it back full of sand. They make their letters look like a bill to confuse people, and charge ridiculously high prices. They've been sued countless number of times, trading standards in the UK simply aren't interested, so the best thing is to just ignore them.

**Site** · #5 (**permalink**) 30-01-2009, 21:37

I agree with Tom also, I shred them as soon as they come in.

Enom are the best for renewal prices in letters

sky high

**Noel** · #6 (**permalink**) 30-01-2009, 23:18

I might just send back the reply paid envelope with a bill for the time I wasted reading it charged at consultancy rates. I shouldn't get wound up by these things really, but it makes me mad when people build a business based to ripping off gullible people.

Caveat Emptor

**Ryan** · #7 (**permalink**) 31-01-2009, 04:14

The best thing is to just ignore such mails. As a registrant, you should only get renewal notices from the company who you've registered your domain name with. Good tip about setting the privacy on the whois if you are a private individual.

**EukSteve** · #8 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 09:13

The only way to get rid of these notifications is to select ID protect. Eukhost ID Protection charges are (£6.00 GBP) so you spend 12 GBP for renewal and preventing unwanted reminders.

**Noel** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 11:11

Thanks for the advice guys. But I think I'll just continue to ignore them or send back the reply paid envelopes empty.. £6 * several domains would be quite a chunk out of my beer budget

Just posted to alert others to the scam.

**eukrobert** · #10 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 11:30

Can you imagine how many of these we have gotten over time, lol

i feel like i have to plant trees just to make sure levels are correct the amount they send

All we have done is had to ignore them i just hope people don't fall for it

they must do though because its went on for years.

**Noel** · #11 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 14:02

They must get some bites, otherwise they wouldn't bother. They are very nicely printed on expensive looking stock so I don't suppose they get much change out of 20 pence each including bulk mailing and software costs (though I'm no expert on these things). So they must get a reasonable conversion rate.

**RSVEcosse** · #12 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 17:37

I get loads of these every few weeks via snail mail.

They look very official, but I'm not that stupid ( honest!!! ).

They go straight in the shredder.

That said, I can see how someone that didn't have much experience in this field could be taken in and scammed if they received one of these notices.

**Site** · #13 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 22:34

One tip,
Re-new the domain for 2 years - then 1 year later keep extending the registration -

Problem solved

**flesso** · #14 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 22:55

Someone should be doing the same for them, I mean they must have a few domains under the belt.

**eukrobert** · #15 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by flesso

Someone should be doing the same for them, I mean they must have a few domains under the belt.

hehe lets start firing letters back at them and hope they fall for it

**gordo** · #16 (**permalink**) 17-02-2009, 15:16

I have had a few of these and other similar one. I have set up an envelope template and quickly print off a couple of evvelope with their addresses on pop their bill clone/letter back in with the note that I am speaking to Trading Standards. And pop it in the post with no stamp.

They have to pay double to take delievery of the letter. I have had to do it twice only to this lot, then the letters stopped. as well as the others too.

**Ryan** · #17 (**permalink**) 17-02-2009, 16:16

lol

Thats a nice trick to ward off such unscrupulous group of scammers..

**MaFtuk** · #18 (**permalink**) 25-02-2010, 11:24

got 2 through the post today.

might fill them with poop and return

or is that too childish?

**MaFtuk** · #19 (**permalink**) 25-02-2010, 11:26

actually, some other junk mail came with them so just put the contents from those into their return envelopes. no stamp though, let them pay to receive them!

MaFt

**willyman** · #20 (**permalink**) 16-05-2010, 11:04

This is how I send mine back.....
Passes the time