Final Notice of Domain Notification: More Domain Spam

“Search registration” spam hits inboxes.

Earlier today I wrote regarding the resurgence of the domain name appraisal scam. Many readers have also forwarded another email making the rounds right now, of which I’ve also received in my inbox.

The subject line reads:

Domain Notification: FIRSTNAME LAST NAME This is your Final Notice of Domain Notification – YOURDOMAIN.COM

The notification looks like an expiring domain notice, but it’s actually not the old scam that tries to get you to renew your domain name through another service (e.g. “Domain Registry of America”). Instead, this notification seems to indicate you need to renew your “search engine registration”, which I suppose means submitting your web site to search engines. Of course all of the language seems to indicate not responding could mean your domain expires, which isn’t the case. The notice includes disclaimers saying this is an offer and not an invoice, but history tells us that modest business accounting departments will end up faxing in their authorization.

The “address” on the notice is for Long Island City, NY. Long Island City is a neighborhood in Queens, not a city.

Here’s the full text of the notice:

I: REVIEW SOLICITATION

Attn: FIRSTNAME LASTNAME
As a courtesy reminder, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration and save.

Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your clients to locate you on the web.

Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine subscription includes domain name search engine submission. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated below unless you accept this offer. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your clients can locate you on the web.

This Notice for: WWW.YOURDOMAIN.COM will expire on March 24,2009 Act today!

Lest you think this sort of misleading solicitation only affects domain owners, I get yellow pages solicitations like this all of the time.