Here’s what I dealt with on Friday.
The moment you register a domain name you need to be prepared for a barrage of phone calls, emails and texts from companies trying to sell web design services.
For this reason, I now register domain names using a Google Voice number and a special email address. This covers most of the domains I hand register, and it always seemed like the perpetrators were only picking up on new domain registrations.
But last week I won a domain on NameJet that was deposited in my Network Solutions account. Despite being a transfer instead of a new registration, the spam began.
Here’s how one of the more interesting communications occurred. First, I got an email from “Leanna” at [email protected]:
Hi There,
Your domain registration is finished. Would you like someone to help with web design?
Our offices are based in California and we’re delivering elegant websites made in house.
We’re in association with Godaddy thats how we got your info.
Have a wonderful day.
Thank you,
Leanna
This notion of being in cahoots with GoDaddy is something a lot of companies use when sending these solicitations. Of course, it’s not true.
I decided to see where this would go. I emailed Leanna back and said I was interested.
Instead of hearing back from Leanna, I got a message from “Sam” at DEHMedia [email protected].
His email indicated that his firm had “launched more than 1000 dynamic websites, responsive and mobile friendly” and directed me to DEHMedia.com to learn more.
The email included links to 8 sites that DEHMedia has apparently designed. One led to a Plesk default server page, but the other sites looked pretty good. The first two led to sites with a footer message saying they were designed by BlueZoo Labs. That was odd.
So I called the two phone numbers in Sam’s email signature. Neither of them picked up, and the second one said it was a MagicJack line.
I emailed Sam back saying that I tried calling and no one picked up. He responded “I am in a meeting. Please call my boss Deborah at…”
I called Deborah.
Deborah explained that her company has 6 web developers/designers. I brought up the initial email that mentioned GoDaddy being associated with them.
Deborah explained that GoDaddy will “shoot out to media companies that we work with” some websites that are brand new.
Hmm. I tried to clarify: you mean GoDaddy will tell you there’s a new website and you should contact them?
Deborah said that GoDaddy is going to capture a small part of the business and wants to have web developers work with their customers to build websites.
This is, of course, quite misleading. They got my information from a Whois record.
Deborah then cleared up the confusion about BlueZoo. She explained that DEH Media was the media part of the company and that BlueZoo, her company, does the development. (So Sam’s Boss works for a different company? That’s Odd.)
At this point, I asked about why a Google search for DEH Media pulls up a company in Switzerland. The domainer in Deborah came out: she explained that they bought the domain name from a prior company. The domain helped because it has longevity and credibility.
It’s unclear to me what relationship DEH Media and BlueZoo have. Both claim to have offices in San Ramon, California. The address points to a Regus space. It’s possible that certain companies work to get warm leads from domain registrations and then pass them on to the actual web design shops once they are qualified.
Shortly after I got off the phone with Deborah I got a call from another web development company, GoWebby. The first time you hear this name in a thick Indian accent, you’ll swear it sounds like GoDaddy.
Jean Guillon says
Can you tell Deborah that I also receive her emails e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y but that Gmail does perfectly well its job. She will understand.
🙂
Kate says
Ahah nice job.
As I like to say, the only difference between a spammer and scammer: one single letter.
Don Murray says
I believe privacy should be put on every domain name.
If that company or individual would like to contact the owner they would be required to pay $25.00 to contact you. Plus it would stop the tire kickers.
Revenue source for registrar and domain owners would be split and would produce millions of dollars for everyone. Also it would stop the robo-calls and spam-email. Owner could either opt in or opt out.
Don Murray
DomainPad.com
John says
“Barrage” isn’t a strong enough word. These people must have robo dialers along with tons of different numbers. I imagine most are located off shore. Call Blocking them works until they try again with a different number.
Acro says
WHOIS privacy doesn’t protect from such spam. The spammers from India and the Philippines scan the zone files daily and extract the contact emails of new domain registrations. Even with a private WHOIS, the email address is contactable. Report their emails to the provider/ISP/registrar and use filters when possible to weed out this crap.
Andrew Allemann says
It depends on which proxy service you use. Some filter out most of the junk like this.
Acro says
The proxy isn’t supposed to filter out anything. It’s essentially an email forwarder. Per ICANN regulations, the registrant needs to be contactable.
Andrew Allemann says
Who says it’s not supposed to filter out anything? I key featured of many registrar’s proxy is that they filter out spam and only let non-spam messages through.
Ron says
well done, way to follow it thru.
FX says
How is this different than when you open a store front, or register a business with your state or any # of things we do in life. Does this warrant for ICANN and GoDaddy and for VRSN to change the whole purpose of Whois and its underlying protocol ??
Andrew Allemann says
I can give you two reasons:
1. They are implying a direct association with GoDaddy, which is false.
2. They are calling numbers on the do-not-call list.
As for changing Whois, that’s going to happen anyway thanks to GDPR.
Jothan Frakes says
Despite being on the national do not call list, I recently got a call from goigi.com soliciting web design for a domain I had registered 24 hours prior. He had a thick Indian accent, identifying himself as “Lawrence”, and had a flurry of call center noise in the background of others silimarly victimizing new domain owners.
While speaking with “Lawrence”, I received a call from another delightful gentleman identifying themselves as “Douglas” from goigi.com (same background noise) offering web design for the same domain name.
I wish I was making this up.
The worst of it is that this aggressive practice rotates through telephone numbers in a manner that makes it challenging to just block a number, and international companies seem to be fairly “honey badger” about respecting the do not call list.
Raj says
I am so sick of being bombarded, within 24 hours of a domain reg.’
In my case it is both Godaddy and CrazyDomains two different registrars, unfortunately. Despite being registered as a DND number I get both SMS and Voice Calls, Emails too.
One thing to note is that CD after a 30 day free promo of privacy – opens it up – although not related, it makes one wonder if the upsell works better once you are exposed to the pesky calls and SMS etc.
Not sure how tracing them down and verifying this helps, we have known about this for years..this needs a solution at the root of all this evil like free privacy.
At the moment one reputed registrar offers it for free and I am preferring them over others with the transfer and reg prices being lower than those not offering the feature.Waiting for Thanksgiving deals before I decide the future course for 1000s of COM domains.
PS: Sad but true a lot of the spammy dev firms are based out of my country.
Nu says
I get these pretty much every day from Indian Spammers, not just on the new reg’s but old ones too..
And the moment you register a domain with godaddy next you get is mail from “GodaddyDesigns.com” asking to buy logo design services ,Pretending to be from GoDaddy..
Daniel says
Thank you for this nice report!
The first experience I made with these “services” was with GoWebby. They called me right after I registered a domain and I could swear this call center guy with the strong accent said he was from GoDaddy offering website services.
The domain in question was NOT registered with GoDaddy so I called my domain registrar and asked them if they were aware that Godaddy is trying to sell website services for domains registered with them. The registrar was not amused and I got 2 recalls from different people who wanted to know more about this issue.
A few hours later i got also an e-mail with reference to the telephone call and it came out that the service was GoWebby not GoDaddy…
John says
Who in the world even hires from that? Are any of them making money from this?
Yes, need to get motivated to use a new email for domains…
Darth Kurt says
They are spoofing the Caller ID which is a federal felony under the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009. They are also not using the do not call list on donotcall.gov…. and the guy that usually talks to you on the other line usually lies and gives a fake name… NO, you’re not Bob the indian guy, you’re Mujibar or Rajagopal or something like that. So, I have to ask them “Why would I want someone who is both a criminal and a liar to work on my website ?” They usually hang up. LOL.
LLCMARKETING says
ok so HOW does one get around this psamming crap? I’ve changed the phone number on my account and I still get called. New domains, old ones but the new ones baffle me, how are they getting my number since I’ve changed it?
Andrew Allemann says
They are buying old lists of whois data
joesaba2014 says
I am bombarded with email offers from website designers and app creators.
They are from different countries.
I remind you thank you for your offers.
I already have a designer websites for my new registered domains and as the domain parking are not as before I make more money with ad advertising, links in content, affiliate marketing, programs ….
Happy Day. Jose