A scam is targeting would-be Web site owners by offering the opportunity to pre-register new top level domain names.
According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), America's consumer protection agency, scam artists are taking advantage of the news that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) may make new top level domains available to the public.
The FTC says consumers are getting fax and email solicitations that offer a new top level domain name for a fee, as soon as it becomes available. Some registration services are guaranteeing new top level domain names or promising preferential treatment in the registration process.
But the offers are premature. Because ICANN has not yet announced its intentions, it is misleading for any service or entrepreneur to offer pre-registration or accept fees for domain names that may never come into existence.
In addition, the FTC says that if ICANN decides to add top level domain names to the current mix of .org, .com and .net, it is likely to set rules about their availability and allocation to ensure fair access by all.
The FTC advises consumers to protect themselves by:
- Avoiding any domain name pre- registration service that asks for up-front fees, guarantees particular top level domain names or preferential treatment in the assignment of new top level domain names.
- Avoiding doing business with people who send unsolicited faxes -- regardless of the offer.
- Staying on top of the news about top level domain names at the ICANN website, http://www.icann.org.
To me, ZDnet comes across as a bloated, online advertorial. I won't be back.