Update Jan 27 2012: The letters from DROC have been improved and are probably in compliance with the law in that they say there is no obligation to renew with them, but the prices are still higher than industry norms.
The Domain Registry of Canada (AKA NameJuice.com) sends out letters to domain registrants in an attempt to hijack their domains.
They also send emails trying to get the unsuspecting to transfer to namejuice.com.
The registrar Namejuce.com (Brandon Gray Internet Services Inc.) was started after the DROC became well known for being a scam.
Sometimes domain registrants forget who their registrar is, fall for this scam, and end up paying the high DROC/NameJuice renewal fees.
The DROC was formerly called the Internet Registry of Canada (IROC) and was first charged by the Competition Bureau of Canada in 2002. (see link below)
Excerpt from link above:
"The Competition Bureau alleges that the Internet Registry of Canada, which offered an Internet domain name registration service, marketed its services by sending mail solicitations that appeared to be invoices sent on behalf of the Government of Canada or an officially sanctioned agency registering domain names in Canada, to individuals and organisations whose domain names were about to expire. The mailings allegedly gave the impression that domain name holders were existing customers of, and had to re-register their domain names with, the Internet Registry of Canada which was not true.
Charged along with the company were James Tetaka and Daniel Klemann. Mr. Tetaka was recently charged with respect to another matter, Yellowbusiness.ca., which was also charged under the Competition Act with respect to allegedly deceptive mail solicitations."
More information:
Court Bars Canadian Company from Misleading Consumers in Marketing of Internet Domain Name Services
Alleged 'domain slammers' lose dot-ca licence, sue CIRA $10 million
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Example email attempting to transfer domain away from current registrar:
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Hello (customer name removed),
The transfer and renewal of your domain name, (domain removed) is not yet complete because your domain name
is currently in a "CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED" status with your current registrar (registrar removed).
In order to complete the transfer and renewal the "CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED" status needs to be removed.
Please see below for instructions on achieving this.
Solution:
- Log into your account with your current registrar, and change the status of your domain,
(domain removed), from "locked" to "active".
- Alternatively you may call your current registrar, (registrar removed) (see phone number below)
and ask them to remove the lock status of your domain name and allow the transfer to Domain Registry of Canada.
- Due to the changes in the .org renewal process, you will need to obtain an EPP key code from your current registrar.
This authorization key removes the need for the user to send in a fax or reply to an email to verify their transfer request.
This is because these names are assigned a unique authorization key at the time of their registration.
The key is created and held with your current registrar. You should be able to obtain your authorization key by contacting
your current registrar.
Please contact your current registrar using the information below and request your EPP Key code.
When you call provide them with your domain name (domain removed), and ask for your EPP key.
Once done please notify us that you have done so by calling our toll-free number below.
- Once done please notify us that you have done so, by clicking on the link below, or calling our toll-free number below.
https://(link removed).
We will then re-attempt the transfer and renewal of your domain name.
As a convenience, we have supplied your current registrars phone number below.
Domain:(removed)
Current Registrar:(removed)
Registrar Phone Number:(removed)
Transfer Department
Domain Registry of Canada
Toll free 1-866-434-0212 or for International Callers, dial +1(905)479-2533
1/21/2011 4:02:20 AM
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