01/03/2002

Bogus callers target domain names

A warning has been issued to anyone who receives an offer of a domain name over the telephone to check the details carefully before agreeing to anything.

The warning was issued by Nominet UK, the national Registry for all domain names ending .uk, after it received reports of people being cold-called with either the news that someone is trying to register their domain name and that they should get in first, or that their domain name is due for renewal and they might lose out if they don't renew it immediately.

Lesley Cowley, deputy-managing director of Nominet UK, said: "Such calls are, frankly, highly suspicious. If you want a domain name, whether for use or in the future, shop around to find an ISP who will register and look after it for you at a price you are willing to pay.

"The market is very competitive, with plenty of choice – you don't need to be bounced into accepting an offer made in an unsolicited telephone call."

Mr Cowley added that if customers have a domain name ending in .uk, Nominet UK would remind the ISP who originally registered it on their behalf that they need to renew it. (MB)

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