Here’s a post about the Domain Renewal Group - perfectly legally, receiving your money and outwitting you in the process.
I got home to find an envelop from the Domain Renewal Group on my doormat. Instantly, and this is the key word here – Instantly, I knew this was a con. An act of deception, intent of relieving me of my money into their bank account, without me knowing exactly what was going on exactly.
I’m sure this company has completed this move many many times and have frustrated many ‘customers’ and fuelled their profits massively.
I ‘instantly’ knew this was fake, because I have had no domain business with the Domain Renewal Group. I haven’t entered into any contract with them, been to their website, heard of their name or purchased any past services from them.
Their logo mimics the USA flag – I’m certain this fuels their ‘official’ status, and therefore ‘concerns’ unsuspecting receivers.
Their business address is in the UK, however their telephone number isn’t.
Their ‘reply requested by’ date, implies that you ‘act by’ this date – when in actual fact there is no reason to.
Their wording is misleading – stating that ‘you must renew your domain’ – true, but not with the DRG
They ask for your credit card number and expiry date – why would you want to do that when you bought the domain online in the first place? Very insecure I think.
Ok I’m done. There a whole host of things that is misleading on this document which needs to be thrown in the bin. Nothing the company have done is illegal, however they 100% ‘are’ playing on your naivety of domain purchasing to ‘officially’ steal/transfer your domain away from your existing host and onto their servers. I’ll let you, look at the paper work and ask yourself ‘would I fall for this stunt?’.
Many, many people do.
I am a digital visual creative professional, who specialises in web design & technology and offers up my philosophical view of Internet life and other random thoughts. You should follow me on Twitter 
Posted by Em Ryall on October 20, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I very nearly fell into this trap myself. Fortunately, I put the letter in my ‘to do’ list and then realised several days later that my domain wasn’t hosted by them (though I think it was actually a different company to Domain Name) and that I didn’t want it transferred to another domain so I binned it.
But as I said, if I had been a bit more efficient in my paperwork, I would have probably completed it and then regretted it later. And I’m supposed to be an intelligent, well-educated person!
Posted by Mark on October 22, 2008 at 10:25 am
Kieran told me he’s had loads of these things over the years. Jason got conned out of a lot of cash with a similar scam on CH as well. People, be careful!
Posted by Graham Ellis on November 2, 2008 at 8:45 am
It’s a follow on from “Domain Listing Center” and “Domain Registry of America” who have been at this for years. The wording actually makes it clearer this time that you’re transferring your domain to them, so it seems that it’s even more legal (unfortunatley), but immoral (to say the least).
Posted by Evan Wiggs on January 22, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Yes these guys are DORKS. They rely on ignorance so know the truth!!
Posted by OGERAU - SOLACROUP on July 14, 2009 at 10:43 am
Thank you for your article.
However, as a French Laywer, I must say that – at least in France – this kind of a scam, by the
” Domain Renewal Group ” might be prosecuted, in the sense that such attempts ( according again to French Law ) is considered as an offense againts the private contract between the individual concerned and the REAL company which is in charge of their very private and personal Domain registration.
This scam might be prosecuted ( at least in France ), because most French Lawyers consider it
as an offense againts the law ” Informatique et Libertés “…
With best regards
OGERAU – SOLACROUP
FRANCE
NOte : I received – yesterday in France – such a nasty letter which was destroyed