“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that don’t have brains enough to be honest. ” - Benjamin Franklin

A friend of mine that I assist with online marketing received an email recently regarding the transfer of their domain. The email read that the transfer of their domain was “not yet complete” and provided the recipient on how to unlock their domain record so that it could be transfered to this new organization.

My friend forwarded the email to me because they were unsure of what to do. It was all very official looking, but it turned out to be a deceitful practice. They send emails out to domain owners to confuse them in unlocking their domain with their current registrar and transfer them to their organization.

Always be wary of emails that ask you to provide sensitive information and always question the source. It’s disheartening that companies will use such tactics to confuse consumers in order to make financial gains.

Here’s the email…

Hello █████,

The transfer and renewal of your domain name, █████, is not yet complete because your domain name is currently in a “REGISTRAR-LOCK” status with your current registrar █████.

In order to complete the transfer and renewal, the “REGISTRAR-LOCK” status needs to be removed and an EPP Key/Authorization code needs to be obtained. Please see below for instructions on achieving this.

Solution:
- Log into your account with your current registrar, and change the status of your domain,█████, from “locked” to “active”.- Then look for the EPP Key or Authorization Code.

- Alternatively you may call your current registrar, █████. (see phone number below) and ask them to remove the lock status of  your domain name, give you your EPP Key and allow the transfer to █████ █████ █████ █████.

- Once done please notify us that you have done so, by calling our toll-free number below. 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: █████
Current Registrar: █████
Registrar Phone Number: Please visit their site to contact them