At least the second fake UDRP notice in recent months
Someone impersonating FORUM, a recognized UDRP provider, convinced Network Solutions to lock a domain after sending a fraudulent notice. This incident follows a similar case last month in which an impostor sent a bogus UDRP notice to another registrar, resulting in a frozen domain.
In the earlier case, an individual emailed name.com claiming a UDRP had been filed; the registrar responded by freezing the domain. The new incident involved a sender pretending to represent FORUM who emailed Network Solutions and prompted the registrar to place a lock on the domain name.
Network Solutions differed from the earlier registrar by disclosing to the registrant which UDRP provider had supposedly issued the notice. Attorney John Berryhill contacted the provider that was named in the message and confirmed there was no such case on record.
The motive behind these impersonations is uncertain. One plausible aim would be to follow the fake notice with a subsequent communication claiming a decision or transfer in favor of a different registrant, hoping the registrar or registrant would accept it and enable a domain transfer.
Given the recurrence of these fake UDRP notices, registrars should consider strengthening their procedures. A straightforward verification step—such as confirming the notice through the UDRP provider’s official channels or using a known secure contact method—would reduce the risk of acting on fraudulent emails. Implementing multi-step authentication before placing a registrar lock or taking other enforcement actions would also help protect registrants from social-engineering attacks.
Registrants likewise can protect themselves by promptly contacting their registrar through established support channels if they receive any notice that appears suspicious, and by keeping accurate, up-to-date contact information on file. Awareness and procedural safeguards on both the registrar and registrant sides are the best defenses against this kind of targeted impersonation.