Chinese Scaring Domain Owners to Buy More Domains

Never heard of this one (from Tech Republic) before.

Some Chinese companies are using a scare tactic to force domain owners to buy .cn domains. An email is sent out to the domain owner telling her some other party is trying to register a domain name very close to her own.

We talked about “cybersquatting” before, and these emails are in the form of a warning against cybersquatters as these email would have you believe.

Their goal is to get you to buy these domains before this unknown someone snatches up the domain and sell it to you later for an exorbitant price or steal your customers.

Here’s a sample email. (names changed — to “Foo” and “Bar” for the outside entities, and “example” for my own domain names)

We are Shanghai Foo Network Information Technology Co.,which is the domain name register center in China.I have something need to confirm with you.

We have received an application formally.one company named “Bar (China) Investment Co.” applies for the domain names(www.example.cn www.example.com.cn etc.),and the Internet keyword(example) on the internet September 17,2009.We need to know the opinion of your company because the domain names and keyword may relate to the copyright of brand name on internet.

we would like to get the affirmation of your company,please contact us by telephone or email as soon as possible.

Simply, don’t respond to these emails. You may be handing over your email address to other scammers.

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