Domain name scam - Be Warned
Posted by: Aiken Drum on 21 March 2005
BE WARNED
My wife’s PA received a phone call today from a “concerned party” who told her that someone else was looking to utilise a number domain name variations and email addresses that were almost the same as those of my wife's business.
The woman explained that they were in the business of setting up shell companies and that an application had been received from a “MJ O’Neill” to buy domain names and email addresses that were virtually the same as those of my wife’s business.
The woman, Christine Jones of Euro Business Formations said that the O’Neill individual ran a business consultancy (as does my wife) and that a sum of £900 had been offered to buy the domain names and email addresses using his “partner’s” visa card.
Christine Jones had made contact because in her opinion such an act was malicious and she felt it was her public duty to let us know. The application had been flagged up by her legal department.
When I asked what could be done, she implied that I could buy the other domain names and email addresses – for a sum in excess of the “offer” on the table. I asked who stood to gain from the whole episode – the reply was along the lines of "I’m trying to protect your business".
The threat was then that if I looked on the web in 24 hours, the domain addresses would be under this other business’ control. I then said that I would have our current ISP/Website provider contact her to resolve things, it became a case of “this afternoon would be too late”.
This convinced me that it was a scam.
I immediately contacted both our web service people and Trading Standards and it was confirmed as a scam – so be warned.
In summary:
Christine Jones
Euro Business Formations
0870 064 5192 x117
Beware if you receive a call from this woman or this company about domain names/email addresses.
Brad
My wife’s PA received a phone call today from a “concerned party” who told her that someone else was looking to utilise a number domain name variations and email addresses that were almost the same as those of my wife's business.
The woman explained that they were in the business of setting up shell companies and that an application had been received from a “MJ O’Neill” to buy domain names and email addresses that were virtually the same as those of my wife’s business.
The woman, Christine Jones of Euro Business Formations said that the O’Neill individual ran a business consultancy (as does my wife) and that a sum of £900 had been offered to buy the domain names and email addresses using his “partner’s” visa card.
Christine Jones had made contact because in her opinion such an act was malicious and she felt it was her public duty to let us know. The application had been flagged up by her legal department.
When I asked what could be done, she implied that I could buy the other domain names and email addresses – for a sum in excess of the “offer” on the table. I asked who stood to gain from the whole episode – the reply was along the lines of "I’m trying to protect your business".
The threat was then that if I looked on the web in 24 hours, the domain addresses would be under this other business’ control. I then said that I would have our current ISP/Website provider contact her to resolve things, it became a case of “this afternoon would be too late”.
This convinced me that it was a scam.
I immediately contacted both our web service people and Trading Standards and it was confirmed as a scam – so be warned.
In summary:
Christine Jones
Euro Business Formations
0870 064 5192 x117
Beware if you receive a call from this woman or this company about domain names/email addresses.
Brad