On 04/12/13 13:17, Juha Saarinen wrote:
Here¹s some more information on the long-running scam:
http://www.auda.org.au/about-auda/our-services/consumer-alerts/unsolicited- letters-from-domain-name-group-pty-ltd-and-domain-register-pty-ltd/
Next time, enclose your URL in angle brackets so your MUA doesn’t create a linebreak in the middle. (Or get a better MUA.) The link you posted wasn’t clickable. I complained to the auDA about this scam on behalf of a customer in October, whose Policy Compliance & Technical Officer replied with the following:
We have looked into the legality of the letters sent out by Domain Name Group Pty Ltd (DNG) some time ago. We were advised that as they state near the middle of the notice that it is an "invitation to register,” it is not in breach of any laws. We have sent out Consumer Alerts in the past (http://www.auda.org.au/consumeralert/) about similar practices with the request that people be aware of such tactics.
Unfortunately, there is not much that we can do with these letters.
It is also very unlikely that DNG would have a reseller account with any .au accredited registrar, hence making it difficult for any registrar to block them from creating domain names. This is especially so if they create accounts in the customer’s name and details and register the domain name within that account.
Finally, it is the government that has the authority to stop organisations like DNG, but only if they are breaking the law.
The only advice we can provide to people who have received such letters is to lodge a complaint with the ACCC (http://www.accc.gov.au) or their local consumer affairs office (http://www.consumerlaw.gov.au/content/Content.aspx?doc=consumers_ACL.htm).