So I'm a fraudster now?

Domainmonster

I bought a preorder domain service from domainmonster.com for £20. When I register for site like this I usually just enter a load of rubbish on sign up and then pay with my debit card, it has worked every other time but now they email me asking for photo id and other verifications which obviously don't match the account info but DO match the card info.

So I think no problem, I'll just login and correct the details on their accounts, since they already have my money what's to worry about. But nope, the account doesn't exist anymore.

Thanks for contacting Domainmonster support. As per the below email
asking you to provide verification, your account will remain locked
until you provide us with the items requested I'm afraid. I realise that
this may be inconvenient, however the verification process is a one time
only process, and you will be verified for life following us receiving
these documents! I would like to take this opportunity to stress that
the 48hours stated in the verification email is absolute, and we must
receive the identification within this time frame.

So I say ok cancel everything and refund the money...

Unfortunately you cannot provide us information that does not the match
the account. It will have to match the address that you have given us on
the account. I wish I could update the account, but I'm afraid that
would defeat the point of verifying the correct address. In the event
that we are unable to unlock the account we will not be able to refund
the money as it will be flagged as fraudulent, and we will be unable to
release the funds in this case. Please let me know if you can provide
anything further, we will need to verify the billing address attached to
the card.

So he is asking for two things here an address to match the account and an address to match the card? Well the ID i provided does match that card so... and besides that I have to do this in 48 hours? Where do I stand legally here? I mean, I've paid for something but not received my service... so...

Hi Krazyjakee,
I apologise if our verification process caused you any offence, and I would like to stress that it was not our intention to imply you were a fraudster, we just have to take extra precautions if we see discrepancies on our users accounts and investigate it a little further, and in this case you were asked for verification. It's an unfortunate fact that Fraud is extremely prevalent in the Domain registration industry, and we have to have these extra security measures in place to protect both our customers and ourselves.

You say that the ID provided matches the card on your account, and I am sure that is correct, but unfortunately we are unable to go to the bank and ask them what the correct address associated with the card is, we just get a "Matched" or "not matched" response, obviously in this case this was not matched as the address on the account didn't exist. We didn't charge your card, and the invoice that the transaction generated would have been £0 as I believe you placed a backorder with us? These are no win no fee, so your card will not be charged unless we successfully register the name for you, so please don't be concerned about us taking funds.

I believe one of our Support agents has already been in touch regarding your account this morning, and has emailed to let you know how we've moved forward with things. However if this is not to your satisfaction, please do just let us know. If you would like to call me on 0845 366 2467 I am happy to deal with this personally to make sure we can get this resolved however we can.

Kind Regards,

Alex

artbaron

First of all I'm pretty sure most registrars have in their Ts&Cs a requirement for correct contact information. I'd be amazed if this were not the case in this instance.

Second, I'm also pretty sure that it's a legal requirement to provide accurate contact info for a domain, and this includes name, address and email.

What stupidity.

drsquirrel

artbaron wrote: »

Second, I'm also pretty sure that it's a legal requirement to provide accurate contact info for a domain, and this includes name, address and email.

Depends on the country, and domain TLD you use...

None of my domains have my details on - they all have proxy addresses via my host etc - if it was plain cut illegal, hosts wouldn't provide this obviously...

DVardysShadow

It is the spam industry. Needs false domains, has stolen credit card details.

So I can see why domainmaster want verification of ID and some kind of check on authority to use the card. But equally, having refined their processes to that point, it is only an extra inch rather than an extra mile to refund to the original card.

artbaron

drsquirrel wrote: »

Depends on the country, and domain TLD you use...

None of my domains have my details on - they all have proxy addresses via my host etc - if it was plain cut illegal, hosts wouldn't provide this obviously...

But surely your details are known to your hoster, and in the event that you need to be contacted your hoster will act as a go-between. In this instance, from what I gather, even that information has not been provided therefore ownership of the domain has never been assigned.

drsquirrel

@DVardysShadow

You don't need domains to spam, even if most domain tld controllers were very restricted, you could just get a domain from another administered TLD... .cc anyone? (etc)

artbaron wrote: »

But surely your details are known to your hoster, and in the event that you need to be contacted your hoster will act as a go-between. In this instance, from what I gather, even that information has not been provided therefore ownership of the domain has never been assigned.

Email would suffice for contact between the registrar.

And not everyone that has access to your website can demand your details from your host or registrar.

In this instance... OP was buying a domain pre-registration, when (And if) it becomes available the registrar will try and register it first and then charge OP - hence why the message above says OP hasn't been charged yet.

Having your details on public whois is a great way for other companies to send you letters saying you need to renew your domain etc, and giving you forms, once you've done they now have your domain away from your real registrar. This is why the proxy service is good, any physical mail is mailed to a bin.

solodanceparty

You are a fraudster for entering false information when you know they wanted your information. How do they know you aren't stealing someones' card details?

drsquirrel

fraudster [ noun ]
someone who gets money by deceiving people

Bit strong calling someone a fraudster for just entering a bit of info "incorrectly".


Also note, that when ordering basic details are verified against the card - though the delivery address can be different - it is up to the retailer if they wish to only delivery/provide to the address registered on the card. A few do this for the first orders.

DVardysShadow

drsquirrel wrote: »

@DVardysShadow

You don't need domains to spam, even if most domain tld controllers were very restricted, you could just get a domain from another administered TLD... .cc anyone? (etc)

Of course you don't need domains to spam from. But the spam industry still needs the domains so they can spam people to buy from them

jamespir

using false information is fraudulent