I just received an e-mail telling me that one of my domains was available to purchase from a company in Canada for $199!

I've sent them a stinking e-mail but it's really p*****d me off! How can they do this?

If they can advertise domains at extortionate prices that are not for sale, and are clearly not theirs to sell, there is nothing to stop some unfortunate individual from making a purchase and parting with money for nothing. Surely they can’t be allowed to get away with this!

The URL is webnamesolution(dot)com (don’t want to hyperlink).

Webname Solution
1256 Guy Street
Montreal,
Quebec H3H 2L3
Canada
(646) 964-6515

Hmm, maybe they were offering to buy it? Looks like they have a search available for the domains they have for sale and when I punch in your domain name it shows up with 0 results.

No, they're definately not offering to buy it from me. The domain in question is autiotoolsdirect (old site) which is currently on a redirect to autiotoolers (new site). Pop that in the search and you can be ripped off to the tune of $199.95!

Have you done a whois to see who owns it?

Failing that its your registrar thats throwing it in the ads.

How can they sell your site? Or did you let it expire?

Likely they have a backorder on it and are trying to get you to pay them in an attempt to get it... i've received a few notices like that from places... craziness...

Mark S: "Have you done a whois to see who owns it?"

I own it. The whois record for the domain is maintained by me.

Stan: "How can they sell your site? Or did you let it expire?"

They can't, that's the whole point. The domain expires Feb 2008 and I have locked it so it can't be transferred to anyone.

Gizmo: "Likely they have a backorder on it and are trying to get you to pay them in an attempt to get it..."

That's not how I read it:

I know the domain is secure. What annoys me is:
1. They are trying to sell me something that I already own.
2. Someone could make a purchase on their web site and be parting with money for something they can't have.

I'm not saying that anyone would specifically want that domain but how many others on that site are bogus?

There are loads of scams in the UK

letters arrive through the post to renew your domain at £60 ~ £80 for a .co.uk

Its scandless and because they look real people pay!

There put together very cleverly.

Domain Registration of America --- is one that springs to mind.

They send out renewals on good quality paper, they look very official. I'm sure many are fooled.

Now that I'm typing this, it's making me think... Wasn't there a 'Crimewatch' on this guy?

Any UK readers remember that?

I have the feeling that this guy was put away, but that he wasn't stopped from trading and his company continues.

Speaking of Domains, i'm getting £80 renewals from nominet via e-mail.
yeh of-course i'm going to pay that.

Nominet= uk registration registrar