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Domain name scammer old hand
8 August, 2003
The man behind the latest domain name scam to hit New Zealand registrants was behind a similar scheme run last year.
As Computerworld Online reported earlier this week (Domain Names NZ falls foul of DNC) Domain Names NZ has been sending letters and faxes to registrants of .co.nz names offering to register the .net.nz equivalent of the name. The letters are made up to look like invoices, which is a breach of the terms and conditions for registration in the .nz space. They also relate to a registrant's existing registered name, which is also not allowed in .nz.
Domain Names NZ is run by an Australian company, Domain Names Australia. The Australian equivalent of the Domain Name Commissioner (DNC), the .au Domain Administration (auDA), says Domain Name Australia is run by Chesley Rafferty, who also ran Internet Registry, a company which conducted a similar campaign in both Australia and New Zealand in 2002 (see Commission talks with Aussie counterpart over registration spam). That campaign landed Rafferty in hot water with the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission). The ACCC is currently investigating whether Rafferty's latest business dealings breach the Federal Court Order prohibiting him from engaging in this kind of business.
The auDA has issued several warnings about Domain Names Australia with the latest being issued in July this year.
More details at: http://computerworld.co.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/3182CB78821D3CD9CC256D7B00123275!opendocument
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