The Trick
A company will get your name and address information from the domain system records and send a letter to you, either by email the postal service, 4-6 months before your domain is due to be renewed. The message will thank you for registering or renewing your domain name. The letter will also invite you, in language that suggests a prior business relationship, to make some change to your domain, or to simply renew it, which will result in the name being transferred away from Addy & Associates. Sometimes, these changes can also result you giving away ownership of your domain!

Protecting Your Domain Name Registration
Ignore ANY communication regarding your domain name registration that is not from Addy & Associates. When your domain is up for renewal, you will receive notification from us with detailed instructions on how to proceed.

If you have already made a payment, we suggest contacting your bank or credit card company regarding your options of having payment stopped or reversed. See below for more details on contacting your credit card company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are making these solicitations?

There are a number of domain registration companies looking to grow their businesses by stealing business from other companies. While we welcome fair competition in the marketplace, some companies believe the best way to win business is to solicit existing domain name registrants from other companies. Wherever possible, these companies will target registrants and trick them into moving their domain registration business. Some companies recently reported to have been involved in this type of activity are:

• Internet Registry of Canada (IROC)
• Internet Registry of America (IROA)
• Verisign/Network Solutions
• Register.com

What should I do to avoid being tricked into changing or transferring my domain?

The best way to combat this is to simply IGNORE all communications regarding your domain name that do NOT come from Addy & Associates.

What can I do if I'm already a victim?

The first thing you should do is contact the payment authority. In all likelihood, these transactions will not be processed if the company is not able to secure payment for the transaction. If you have already sent money to one of these companies, we suggest contacting your bank or credit card company immediately regarding your options to have any payment you may have authorized either stopped or reversed. Normally, your credit card will have a Customer Service number on the back. If not, try the proper contact number listed here.

Major Credit Card Company Contact Numbers
     Visa Global Customer Assistance: 1-800-847-2911
     Mastercard USA: 1-800-MC-ASSIST (1-800-622-7747)
     Mastercard Canada: 1-800-307-7309
     American Express: 1-800-528-4800
     Diners Club USA: 800 2 DINERS (1-800-234-6377)
     Diners Club Canada: 1 800 363 3333

How can I help make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else?

Report the incident to your current provider and the appropriate authorities!! Proactively combating these sorts of unscrupulous business practices is the only way to ensure these companies are stopped. This will not only help you, but all registrants, to enjoy the freedom to choose your provider and to be free from solicitations designed to deceive or trick you. It will also help us aid you in the recovery of your domain.

If you received the solicitation in the mail, you can report the incident to the United States Postal Inspection Service On-line Complaints web site.