This morning at work we received a letter from a Cambridge company called EU Registry Services. It warned us that our domain name registration was about to expire if we didn't renew and inviting us to renew for a fee of £60.
Luckily our practise manager knows not to take these things at face value and asked me to check it out. It appears that EU Registry Services is a well known scammer of this type of domain renewal scam. They've also tried to convince people that they were accredited to offer .eu domain names.
If you received one of these letters DO NOT pay them any money. If your domain needs renewal you should do this through your existing provider. One forum I came across even reckoned you should contact Cambridge Police.
I've reproduce the text of the letter below simply for those who might do a search on an extract of it.
UPDATE: According to Ben in the Comments, Cambridge Police are now only interested in reports from people who have lost money to the scammers.
Domain Name: VATEASE.COM
Status: DUE TO EXPIRE
Renewal Fee: £60.00 (2 Years)
The domain name shown above is due for renewal. Please renew this domain immediately to ensure service continues uninterrupted. If payment is not made to the registry before the expiry date the domain is subject to immediate suspension and deletion without further notice.
Important Information: It is vital that domain renewal fees are paid promptly to avoid registrants losing domain ownership. If it becomes past due then the domain name is deleted from the Internet and open for purchase by other parties. We request you provide us with up-to-date contact information to be able to contact you when payment is due. We will send no further warning of your domain expiry before it is deleted.
Thank you for this info. I got one too and am grateful to be warned that it is a scam.
As I had not heard of the company before, despite having my domain name for 5 years, I thought I had better check the web for information. Thank - you your website alerted me to the scam.
I received one this morning for £60 to renew a site for two years. They weren't very smart as the site was deleted exactly two years ago. They clearly don't keep their data base up to date. Gave the game away immediately.
Yup - same muppets sent me a letter this morning! Exactly the same scam (I have around 20 domains and I monitor them on a regular basis) but apart from raising my blood pressure for two seconds no harm done; However, I have sent them in the provided envelope a long list of explanations why I consider them to be lower than pond life, why their place in the modern society is within the "cannot-make-a-proper-living" parasites class and that this is it: for them it will never get better, this is the pinacle of their life, to be actually mentioned for being some very sad and pathetic losers and crap at doing this scam anyway.
Thanks for the tip. I received a letter this morning. I thought something was up as the domain isn't due for renewal until next year. I've phoned Cambridge police who took down my details.
Hi
I own more than 400 domain names and often get this sort of letter.
The letter from EU received today includes a telephone number: 020 071 5644 (DEAD).
They are actively promoting the registration of .eu domain names, email to me:
The European Union has approved the
launch of .eu domain names, which
are expected to go live in late 2003
or early 2004.
We are now accepting orders for the
new .eu domains.
http://www.registereu.com/?ref=d16
See our web site for contact information.
Do not reply to this email - the address
is not monitored.
To change your subscription options see:
http://www.registereu.com/options.php
Thanks for your continued support!
---------------------
They also take the money up front and provide a sincere and valued service!!!
DO NOT TOUCH. ALL ABOVE ARE DEAD LINKS!
Regards
Hugh Johnson
Received the same, reporting it straight to Cambridge Police
Hey ! I got one too! Presumably if I did write a cheque to them I could trace which bank it was cashed at and then go at them where it hurts - i.e where they get cash
Received exactly the same letter this morning- thought it was suspicious so I looked up EU Registry Services on Google, which led me here. And from here, it's on to the police!
Just phoned Cambs police, they said they've had lots of phone calls about this already, and they've got someone investigating. They're only taking down details now of people who've lost money to the scam.
Ben: Thanks for the info. I'll update the body above.
Sent me the exact same message my domain is not up for renewal until August this year which rang warning bells.
These scum should be sent down for a very long time and their bank accounts seized.
I this the death penalty should be brought back for spammers and scammers, shall we visit the address in Cambridge and make them eat shoe's.
Just got the letter, wrote the cheque, than decided to check it out and thanks to this and a few other sites found out about the scam. Thanks. Cheque is shredded as we write!
I did receive a eu renewal for #60.00 from a Camabridge company. Thanks for the information I found here didn't have waste anymore time on it.
I got one today, but it is post marked/franked Dartford (Kent).
Maybe a service company?
My Registrar automatically renews my domains (and at £10 per year for .INFO) ...
I just got this as well, so I placed a peice of paper with the word 'poo' written on it and popped the envelope back in the post minus a stamp.
Thanks for keeping this warning online. I received the letter today, and it really looks like a genuine renewal notice. I have contacted just-the-name who my domain names are with, suggesting that they warn all of their customers. If they weren't so greedy I might have meen more readily fooled - I pay a lot less than £60 for 2 years!
I have also just contacted UK2.net who provide my domain - and suggested that they also post a warning note. ..and like Jack above had written the cheque before I decided to check. Cheque shredded. Thankyou aardavark !
Hi
I received one of these payment demand letters this morning for my .biz site.
I've notified Sussex and Cambridge police and my internet service providers.
I had never heard of EU Registry Services until today. Their letterhead does not include a logo or company registration number - which made me question the credibility. Also there is no exiry date or 'payment by' detailed in the letter - which also makes it unprofessional.
The address they give at 48 Regent Street Cambridge appears to be a mail drop address for all manner of very dodgy sounding companies.
The www.registereu.com site is down - which confirmed my suspicions about this being a scam from scum.
Got one today too. Found your site when I decided to investigate a little. Thanks for the info.
Got 4 of these letters last week. Was very suspicious. Contacted ISP who confirmed that it was a scam.
Have looked at the Trading Standards Authority website but this only allows complaints from consumers and as these domains are for my business I can't complain. But if you're not a business - complain
Can't believe these scum can operate when they are quite blatently conning people.
I got one today. I scanned a copy and submitted it to the ASA because technically it's an advert for their services (given that they aren't your current provider). Highly misleading but actually cleverly written in that "the registry" is not actually them, merely used in such a way to make one think so.
And one arrived for me today - I re-register with my hosting service and the renewal is due in July so it looked like a scam from the start
Also got one today and so nearly posted the dam thing as well but luckily I checked it out before I did. I just can't believe this shit goes on.
I received this letter and contacted my isp to see if my domain was up for renewal. They said that it was up for renewal and provided me with the cost which was a bit more expensive than the £60 quoted from EURegistry Services. I then decided to check on Google before making a decision on who to go with. Am I glad I did!
Got an identical letter this morning, from a company called Domain Registry Services ... strangely enough also in Cambridge. Wonder how they didn't know I'd already renewed (for considerably less than £60!) ;-)
Do ya think they could be the same scummy outfit?! :-)
Well, straight to Trading Standards I think!
I've got a page up on this at http://www.seowebsitepromotion.com/ enigma_log.htm I'm spending the weekend identifying the culprits. They'll then be made public. Boot on the other foot.
Ah ... you need to remove the trailing fullstop in the above URL.
Mike - I've edited the URL for you.
Just been alerted by Cambridgeshire Police that arrests have been made. Bonus!
Got a letter in the post today (16/09/04).. same as above .. so it's still going on!
I got a letter yesterday (16/09/2004) as well! They’ve changed their address from Compass House, Vision Park (CB4 9AD) to Office 6, 154 Church End (CB1 3LD). Phone number’s changed to 0870 950 0369.
At last, I was feeling so left out...but after a long time waiting I finally got one! YAY!
Someone must be able to do something about this ... its cleary a scam, and close to fraud surely?
Feel like sending them an invoice for the time I've spentreading their small print on the back!
yup - I got one this morning too - so those arrests didn't do much good!
it was very convincing, as my domain is indeed up for renewal soon - but as I usually pay only £10 a year it did seem a bit steep - and my service provider confirmed in minutes that it's a scam
Yup, still scamming. I received the usual guff from the Church End address last week. Have filed it in the bin where it belongs. Suprises me that the police cant shut these people down just like that, our law is an ass sometimes.
Pleased to find this info on the net though to help others confirm it actually is the scam it really is.
I got a renewal letter today exactly what the others got, I was a bit confused as I just started my domain 8 months ago, yes it is true they are in Office 6, 154 Church End Cambridge, CB1 3LD, tel 08709500369, I will send them a cheque with a mickey mouse face telling them I don't give a rat's ...They should be locked up somewhere in the antartic with no duvets at all, cold blooded scammers.
I got one this morning regarding one of my .org Domains. Some people are saying what they are doing is not actually illegal. Surely holding information on a database containing personal information without your permission is? How did they get the Nominet database anyway? did they steal it?
Received same a few days ago from Church End address and smelled a rat!
Your web site confirmed - thanks.
They've been dealt with at last (only took 9 months!!)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/ 23/nominet_legal_win/
H’mm, not sure what impact that’ll have on them, unless Nominet get enough off them to send them into bankruptcy, heheh. I mean, they haven’t been charged over the .org domains, and Nominet can’t do anything about that.
Quick tip, you know all the other junk mail you receive everyday. Stuff their envelope full of the stuff and send it back to them without a stamp. Serves 2 purposes. costs them money to retreive it and gets rid of the junk mail for you.
I got the same letter this week, I am glad I checked it out first.
Thanks for the heads up!
One of my clients was caught out by EU Registry Services for 2 DNs £120.00 was paid. Additionally I have just received a DN transfer request saying that I have to reply by 17 Oct. I've requested a meeting and their full contact details. Some chance!
One of my clients was caught out by EU Registry Services for 2 DNs £120.00 was paid. Additionally I have just received a DN transfer request saying that I have to reply by 17 Oct. I've requested a meeting and their full contact details. Some chance!
"weaselboy" aka .eu registry scammer is in court. Cambridge fuzz got him.
Had a letter in June 2005 from Cambidgeshire constabulary.
Text as follows
Dear sir/madam
You or your company is one of thge hundreds of victims who have complained to the Trading Standards or Cambridge Police about the conduct of Peter Francis-Macrae trading as Ultrs Technologies, EU Registry Services or Domain Registry Services.
The compalints recived mainly relate to the dishonest soliciting by Macrae for money to reserve or renew domain names.
This letter is to advise you that Macrae has been charged with a number of offences of dishonesty resulting from these complains. He is scheduled to appear before either Peterborough or Cambridge Crown court on 19th september 2005. Currently he is remanded in custody pending this court appearance.
Your details have been recorded as a complainant and the master crime reference is CF 0132400305.
Should you require any further information please contact C Moss on 01354 606544.
Yours Faithfully
Michael Winters
Chief inspector.
From the text above we see that Peter Francis-Macrae has gone to Crown court, where more serious matters are tried. We also see that he is remanded in custody ie Banged up in clink from at least june to september.
Fantastic ..
