Internet Domain Name Services (IDNS)

Angela –

Victim Location 76430

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

The notice states the domain name of our business will expire on a specific date and offers renewal for domain name on a 1, 2, or 3 year term.

Patrick –

Victim Location 72687

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I am an internet domain name holding business owner who has been successfully registered for 18 years and suddenly I get this letter in the mail saying my domain is in the rears and that I need to hurry up and spend an exorbitant amount to them to maintain my registration.

I have instant live access to the status of my internet domain conditions through my provider who is also my registrar and all of my accounts are well paid up.

This is a shameless fraudulent scam to extort money from panicky short sighted individuals and it is predatory and malicious profiteering against the general public at large.

Alisha –

Victim Location 55119

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I received a letter from iDNS stating " as a courtesy to domain name holders we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months.

Kristen –

Victim Location 80238

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Received a mailing from this company stating my domain name was up for renewal and that I needed to send payment. While there was print

Stacey –

Victim Location 55731

Total money lost $80

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

My client has her domain registered with another company and she received an email from Internet Domain Name Services saying that it was "time to renew your domain" (it was not– it’s paid up through January 2018 at A DIFFERENT DOMAIN company) and they charged her $40 per year for TWO YEARS and her current registrar charges less than half of that for two years. She thought this email was from her current registrar. Thankfully her domain is locked and they couldn’t steal it, but I had another client LOSE HER DOMAIN like this (because the phishing registrar locks the domain and you have to buy it to recover it) and have to pay thousands of dollars and take legal action to get it back.

WARNING Internet Domain Name Services is a SCAM.

Melissa –

Victim Location 83642

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Sends an official looking letter with a notice that my domain name is going to expire. They evidently use the whois.icann.org services to discover my domain information and address.

Technically, they do not claim to be the current registrar but the letter is worded in a way that makes one think that they must renew through iDNS services to avoid losing the domain.

In reading other customers’ experiences dealing with iDNS I have serious doubts that they actually provide a domain registration service — it seems to be a complete scam with no attempt at providing the said registration.

Justin –

Victim Location 96160

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

iDNS is a scam. They mine Whois data and send out letters to mailing addresses in your domain name contacts. The letters claim that your domain name registration is expiring soon and must be renewed through them. The letters use scare tactics to get you to pay up for a renewal. Problem is they are not the registrar of the domain name and their prices are 4-5x more than the legimate registrar.

They have been in operation for years and still nothing has been done to stop these scammers. See here: http://kimballrexford.com/idns-internet-domain-name-services/

Phillip –

Victim Location 94610

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

iDNS sent me something that closely resembles a bill, with space to enter my payment info and send it back to them. When I read more closely I discovered that it is not charging me for something, but more asking me to switch my internet domain registration service over to their company.

This is not something I need; my current domain registration service works great.

Also, the cost is higher than what I am currently paying.

When I called to talk with them on the phone, I spoke once before he replied rudely and hung up on me.

I tried to call back, went through the automated system, was waiting on hold, then they hung up on me.

Do not switch your domain registration service to iDNS. It’s unnecessary, just use your current domain registration service. It’s expensive, your current domain registration probably costs much less. Their customer service is horrible!

Additionally, look up the address–it’s a UPS store! They don’t even have an office. It’s probably a complete scam. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t even do domain registration services, but just steal people’s money.

Toni –

Victim Location 46307

Total money lost $180

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

IDNS—-BUYS INTERNET LISTS AND SENDS OUT TRANSFER PAPER WORK—WITH YOUR DOMAIN NAME–

IF YOU DO NOT USE THEM, THEN THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD LOSE YOUR DOMAIN NAME IF YOU DO NOT REGISTER IN TIME AND THINGS EXPIRE —

THEY ARE TOTAL JERKS ON THE PHONE…

LET’S SAY YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED…DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE PEOPLE UNTIL YOU TOTALLY CHECK THEM OUT BECAUSE YOUR DOMAIN NAME MIGHT ALREADY BE COVERED –THEY SKIRT LAWS——AGAIN DO NOT USE THEM!!!!!!

Pedro –

Victim Location 91381

Total money lost $45

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I’ve a bill to pay for my domain name last year and I’ve sent a check to recognize that I normally renew via website not with mailed invoice.

Yesterday, I’ve received another bill so I decided to report this fake invoice.

Joy –

Victim Location 11901

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

This company, IDNS somehow got my business information and sent me an official looking warning that my business Domain Name was about to expire and that I can pay for it before it expires. They got my information on when my Domain was going to expire. I called up my regular hosting company and they found this to be phishing and a scam. My hosting company is big and well known. They told me to never pay anything like this and they only want the money. I called up this company after searching for their number on the Internet. I called to inquire about this letter and I was rudely told that I had to pay online. This man proceeded to verbally attack me telling me I didn’t read the letter and I missed everything! Really? That was the first ‘red light’ that went off! I called back after speaking to my regular host site company, and again not only was this man so rude to me on the phone and raised his voice he told me he didn’t want my business! ha, really. Ok, don’t worry, that will never happen. I warn business owners out there and anyone who has a website, do not do business with IDNS. They are not up to snuff and cannot handle being asked questions.

Seth –

Victim Location 46204

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

My company owns a domain with several extensions that redirect to the main site. We received a letter asking to pay to renew the domain. It is already paid up for several more months (we manage all extensions via godaddy). The letter also noted an "available" domain that we can buy that we also already own. We did not send any payments; we figured out the scam immediately (though my boss, who received the letter, almost approved payment while I was out for the morning at a meeting).

Travis –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Received unsolicited form letter from IDNS called "Domain Name Expiration Notice". Text of letter states "As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire…" "You must renew your domain name to retain exclusive rights to it on the Web, and now is the time to transfer and renew your name from your current Registrar to Internet Domain Name Services. Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web." This is a scam that tries to get owners of domains to send their credit card information to IDNS. The letter and return envelope look very official. PLEASE stop this scam.

Cory –

Victim Location 98125

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Received unsolicited form letter from idns called "Domain Name Expiration Notice". Text of letter states "As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire…" "You must renew your domain name to retain exclusive rights to it on the Web, and now is the time to transfer and renew your name from your current Registrar to Internet Domain Name Services. Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the Web."

This is a bogus mis-leading claim that tries to get owners of domains to transfer their registration to idns for an extremely high fee, plus adds multiple year options for a higher fee, and offers the same domain name with different endings to get even more money from the rightful owner of the domain.

Ricky –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Arnaque: iDNS ou DROC veut renouveler frauduleusement vos domaines

Peut-être avez-vous reçu, ou recevrez-vous un message provenant de Domain Registry of Canada (DROC), Brandon Gray Internet Services Inc. ou de iDNS (Internet Domain Name Services) vous indiquant qu’il est temps de renouveler votre nom de domaine.

Attention! Ces compagnies sont frauduleuses!

En lui répondant, vous risquez de perdre votre nom de domaine à leur profit, en plus de leur donner une somme d’argent qui ne leur est pas due.

Pour vous en prémunir, lisez bien ce qui suit. https://zone.votresite.ca/-/0d2yacG8GB/

Stacey –

Victim Location 94304

Total money lost $180

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Received an invoice to renew our domain name. Didn’t check our records of where we originally bought the name so paid it via mail, which was a mistake. Then I got an email saying

"In order to complete the transfer and renewal, we require the Authorization Code/EPP Key from your current registrar. Please contact your current registrar , Register.com, Inc. and ask them for the Authorization Code/EPP Key, and to UNLOCK your domain name. Once done please notify us that you have done so by replying to this email with the Authorization Code/EPP Key."

Seemed very strange that I needed to complete this step. When I called register.com, they told me that IDNS is a scammer.

Mario –

Victim Location 95032

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I got a letter saying the domain such and such was about to expire, act now urgency and asking for exorbitant high prices for renewal. But it’s not a renewal I never used iDNS.

Peter –

Victim Location 76442

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

We received a letter stating our domain name was going to expire. The company presented itself like we need to send money to keep it active and avoid losing our domain address. I called to get clarification on the letter and the man was extremely rude and refused to give me his name. This company doesn’t even own our domain name but presents in the letter that they do. STAY AWAY AND DON’T GIVE THEM MONEY!!!

Rachel –

Victim Location 80033

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

This is a company that uses "Domain Slamming" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_scams#slamming) to lure victims into paying domain name services fees that are not required.

Eric –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Received a renewal notice in the name that stated our domain name was expiring.

I knew then was not the company we buy our domain from to I looked into the business name online and its is a scam

Erin –

Victim Location 98117

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

iDNS sends out letters titled "Domain Name Expiration Notice" to make it look like you need to renew your internet domain name with them (even though you already have the domain registered under another registrar). This is obviously a very deceptive business practice.

Joseph –

Victim Location 94025

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Invoice for "Courtesy" notification of domain renewal.

Travis –

Victim Location 11217

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Letter requesting renewal of internet domain.

Eric –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Invoice for domain name fee

Eddie –

Victim Location 84004

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Company is attempting to trick website owners into paying them for the domains they already own. They falsely claim the domain is expiring soon and that you have to pay them to retain it. Really they’re trying to get you to purchase other related domains through them. Other domains you don’t need and will in no way save your initial domain from is proper expiry date. Shady and misleading!!

Linda –

Victim Location 44425

Total money lost $45

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

My company received a notice in the mail from iDNS stating that our domain would expire if we did not renew before the given date. It lead us to believe that they were our domain company and that we needed to proceed with the renewal in order to avoid a lapse in service.

Beth –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Company initially sends number of false emails suggesting your domain name will be lost if you dont act soon, then they send out the mail which is designed to look like an invoice. They will catch people with it. The worst part is they are not even competitively priced in the market. Disgusting! And the fact they are still operating suggests a pathetic apathy by the government of Ontario. There is another shock.

Scott –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I got a letter in the mail saying that my domain name was up for renewal, and they wanted money to renew. The context of the letter suggested my old provider was no longer renewing my domain name.

Dylan –

Victim Location 80203

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

My business received a letter in the mail titled "Domain Name Expiration Notice". States we must return the invoice with our credit card number to renew our internet domain name (they had the correct domain name). There is an option for 1 year renewal – $45, 2 year renewal – $80 or 5 year renewal – $180. They also offered optional domain name purchases for similar domain names. Very realistic invoice, I’ll bet several people will fall for it.

Evan –

Victim Location 97217

Total money lost $45

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Our office received hard-copy invoices to renew multiple domains expiring within the next six months. The invoices look very official, however in bold lettering the print says, "This notice is not a bill, it is rather an easy means of payment should you decide to switch your domain name registration to Internet Domain Name Services."

One invoice ended up getting paid, while the other made it to my desk before processing. Our domains are locked but I am taking steps to ensure we don’t lose control over the domain over the interim.

A few general rules of thumb: Re-registering domains for the year should only cost $10-$20 (not $45! That is a crock); Your registrar will never send you a paper copy of anything like this–they will send you and email; Lastly, this function is often renewed automatically, within 12 months of the previous purchase (they are not going to remind you 6 months prior to the expiration, or make you pay several months in advance).

Hopefully this is helpful for someone in future, see attached document for a sample invoice–Read the print, the language sounds like a scam!

Beth –

Victim Location 11226

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

This is the second time I’ve gotten a scam letter from Internet Domain Name Services (IDNS). They send me a "Domain Name Expiration Notice" and tell me it’s going to expire soon and ask me to provide a credit card number to extend my domain name.

Robert –

Victim Location 11231

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Letter from company asking to renew domain name. Buried in the document is the disclosure that this is not a renewal, but rather switching your service. Seems likely he a scam. .ae domain and NJ postal address seems suspicious.

Samantha –

Victim Location 80516

Total money lost $180

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I paid IDNS $180 to register for the website hilsidehousesatcu.com for 5 years of exclusive web rights. The check, # 2494 was cashed on 12/2/16. I received a notice a few weeks ago that it was time to renew my website domain name and stating that my site registration would expire 3/16/17. I was informed by my website manager that domain registration costs only $10 per year. So they have stolen $180 from me.

Mindy –

Victim Location 98685

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

This company will send you a letter as soon as they find a newly registered website, claiming your domain name is expiring and asking you to renew your domain for an atrocious $45 / year fee. They are obviously preying on people who don’t know better, using red font and bold letters to make it look like a warning, but also saying this payment is not mandatory (because it isn’t).

Jacqueline –

Victim Location 91207

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I received what appears to be an invoice but is in fact a solicitation disguised as an invoice. The top says Domain Name Expiration Notice, and in the body of the letter the language implies that renewal through via the "invoice" is required to keep your domain name. This company has nothing to do with my current domain.

Bruce –

Victim Location 93030

Type of a scam Online Purchase

I got the infamous "Domain Name Expiration Notice" asking for 45 vs. 80 vs. 180 $. No need to state another time what kind of scam it is. Of course, I haven’t sent money.

Ashlee –

Victim Location 92078

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

iDNS says your domain name is about to expire and looks like a payment is due. Claims to be an easier way to transfer and pay for your domain name renewal for $45.00 per year. My domain costs less than $14.00 per year. These people are unethical and trying to fool business owners that are not tech-savvy. This letter fooled my dad who was worried my domain is expiring. All the information iDNS uses is part of my public whois record associated with my domain. I checked the address, too — it is a UPS Store!!! FRAUDS.

Zachary –

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Company sent "Domain Name Expiration Notice", which looks very much like an invoice for renewal, advising of a domain name expiry and offing to ‘renew it’. Problem is that this company is not the existing domain registrar for the domain in question. Accepting the "offer" provided on the notice would effectively transfer the domain to iDNS. Registrar rates are roughly 4X that of the market price. Beware.

Jermaine –

Victim Location 70001

Type of a scam Other

Letter sent by post. Says that you must renew your domain name. Prices are twice the average rate. It looks like this is a scam preying on people that don’t know much about the internet.

Robert –

Victim Location 30009

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

They will say your Domain name with them will expire and will result in a loss of your online business name.

I didn’t even have an account with this person/company.

This is a scam and has been posted as one online by blogs.

Evan –

Victim Location 14450

Total money lost $80

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I have a website for my business, the above company sent me an invoice for my domain name for $80.00, I thought it was from my current domain name provider. I sent the check to them, then received an email that said I needed to have my domain name released from my CURRENT holder, in which I thought they were. I have sent them several emails regarding the issue asking for a phone number where I can speak to someone about the issue. I have received no response from this place.

Clinton –

Victim Location 22152

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

This company sent a "Domain Name Expiration Notice" in the mail, when I never established any such domain name with them. The "Notice" requests various payment amounts for something I never ordered from them. When I called, the person who answered the phone was rude, uninformed, and untruthful about the nature of the Notice, which he kept referring to as an "offer." I tried explaining to him that the Notice was asking for a renewal, and thus, was not an offer, but he would not listen. When I asked him to provide me with the information on the original order, he refused. I continued to call back multiple times, but no one would answer the phone. This company is a complete sham and someone needs to do something about it immediately. I will be taking further legal action against it, but in the meantime all other affected consumers need to be aware.

Tanya –

Victim Location 59715

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

tells me my business and personal website domain name expires on January 1, 2017 (not true) and tells me I can take advantage of their savings by switching to their services. but does say "this is not a bill," but they have no phone number for contact, and my domain name doesn’t expire for 2.5 more years. Their scam is that they tell you your domain name will expire and so you should renew with them.

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