Renew Scam https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/breaking-news/domain-name-scam-cops-2m-fine/n

[DomainNames]

https://www.news.com.au/finance/bus...e/news-story/e662367be72a9b4ad1ad27df71aa16c8
"
Domain name scam cops $2m fine
Two companies that fleeced Australian small businesses out of $2.3 million with fake domain renewal invoices have been fined a combined $1.95 million.

David Sigston
Australian Associated PressJune 15, 20183:46pm

Two related companies that scammed small businesses out of a total $2.3 million with fake internet domain name renewal notices have been fined close to $2 million.

Competition watchdog the ACCC said the Federal Court found Domain Corp Pty Ltd and Domain Agency Pty Ltd had sent false and misleading domain name registration renewal notices to about 300,000 businesses between November, 2015 and at least April, 2017.

The fake renewal notices were in fact for the registration of a new domain name at a cost of $249 to $275, the ACCC said, and misled the businesses into thinking they were paying for renewing existing domain names.

ACCC acting chair Delia Rickard said the domain companies had knowingly deceived businesses.

"These sham operations target small businesses, capitalising on a lack of understanding of the domain name system or a busy office environment," Ms Rickard said.

The court also found the sole director of both companies, Mr Steven Bell, also known as Steven Jon Oehlers, was involved in the conduct.

Mr Bell has been disqualified from managing a corporation for five years, and ordered to pay $8,000 in costs.

Mr Bell and the companies are subject to orders requiring that any future notices sent to companies clearly state that the notice is not a bill and carries no requirement to pay any money.

Ms Rickard urged businesses to be vigilant when paying domain registration invoices.

She said any business that received a renewal notice for a ".com" or ".net.au" domain name should check that the notice applies to renewing their proper domain name."

 

[DomainNames]

Where are the auDA and Ausregistry announcements about this and did they both refund back to everyone affected their portion of any fees and charges.

 

[DomainNames]

https://www.google.com/search?clien...x0ASS0aW4DQ&btnG=Search&q=Domain+Corp+Pty+Ltd

 

[Scott.L]

Where are the auDA announcements about this

Funny you should ask;

auDA Board Meeting - 14th November 2016

Who is, The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce? Scamwatch.gov.au

The Scams Awareness Network (SAN), formerly the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce, is made up of government regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand that work alongside private sector, community and non-government partners to raise awareness about scams and disrupt them.

Interesting to note: I see ACCC, ACMA, AFP, on the membership list, but............... auDA is missing?

 

[DomainNames]

Funny you should ask;

auDA Board Meeting - 14th November 2016
View attachment 920
Who is, The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce? Scamwatch.gov.au

The Scams Awareness Network (SAN), formerly the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce, is made up of government regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand that work alongside private sector, community and non-government partners to raise awareness about scams and disrupt them.

Interesting to note: I see ACCC, ACMA, AFP, on the membership list, but............... auDA is missing?

How can auDA be on it? That would be a joke.

Some auDA "SCAMS" on .au domain name Consumers ( includes Registrars and Resellers who are also domain name Consumers buying off auDA and the .au domain name auDA subcontrator wholesale registry providers).

Do people want to know the real reason why the ACCC resigned off the auDA PRP and wanted to distance themselves from auDA?

http://domainincite.com/22634-auda-probably-wont-pass-on-full-afilias-savings-to-registrants
http://www.domainpulse.com/2018/06/14/auda-branchstacking-ahead-sgm/
https://www.channelnews.com.au/australians-said-to-have-been-ripped-off-on-domain-names-since-2008/
https://www.smh.com.au/business/sma...n-name-owners-ripped-off-20170807-gxqpzs.html

 

[Scott.L]

Funny you should ask;

auDA Board Meeting - 14th November 2016
View attachment 920
Who is, The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce? Scamwatch.gov.au

The Scams Awareness Network (SAN), formerly the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce, is made up of government regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand that work alongside private sector, community and non-government partners to raise awareness about scams and disrupt them.

Interesting to note: I see ACCC, ACMA, AFP, on the membership list, but............... auDA is missing?

LOL I was just about to say - i should redact the 'interesting to note' comment. it appears government agencies are members of SAN. the minutes are vague about what the 'Position' entails; it is difficult to reference what Mr. Boardman has secured on behalf of auDA. [if anything at all]

regardless, the minutes state that Mr. Boardman [CEO] secured a position with SAN via AFP & ASIC [whatever that means] i would imagine that this position would entail a type of working relationship with ACCC & SAN about consumer protection. The ACCC hosted a SAN meeting on 19 February 2018 to discuss the 2018 Scams Awareness Week campaign, scheduled to run from 21-25 May 2018. This year the campaign will focus on threat-based impersonation scams. auDA did not announce [via minutes or newsletter] they attended this meeting

in the report of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s activities - 1 January to 31 March 2018 it was noted:
The ACCC released an issues paper in relation to the Digital Platforms Inquiry seeking feedback on the market power of platforms; the implications of digital platforms for media content creators, advertisers and consumers; longer term trends in the media and advertising services market; and the effectiveness of existing regulation and proposals for changes.

The ACCC released an issues paper on 26 February 2018 seeking feedback on matters relevant to the inquiry. Submissions to the issues paper closed on 3 April 2018 - auDA did not make a submission.