eNom Domain Thieves

24 Comments for eNom Domain Thieves

• 1. Rick  |  June 29th, 2007 at 11:41 am

  Ransom? Wow, talk about paranoia! ICANN transferred custody of the Registerfly names to GoDaddy a couple of weeks ago. That’s why they were already able to confirm your identity. eNom can only verify the authenticated transfer of your names with a photo ID. What kind of person in the year 2007 doesn’t have a photo ID of some kind? Drivers license? State ID? Passport? Maybe you’re a wanted criminal, who knows? Go get a photo ID and this will all be much easier. Good luck!

• 2. SEO Dave  |  June 29th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

  Your an idiot, you wouldn’t work for eNom would you? I told the idiot on eNom technical support (Michael Gravelle) about this URL and your comment came pretty quick

  Let me get this straight, you think everyone should own a photo ID, otherwise they are a criminal?

  Do you work for the UK government by any chance

  State ID = US. Did I mention I live in the UK, there isn’t a national ID (yet).
  Passport: Not everyone including me owns one.
  Drivers Licence: Not all have photo IDs, and what if I didn’t have a driving licence or I was a kid?

  If you are right looks like people with no photo ID will loose their domains to eNom. Great system they have there, lets assume everyone has a photo ID.

  BTW I could run up a fake ID in about 10 mins on Photoshop, but there’s also principal in this. I’ve provided more than enough information to prove I own the domains and that should be enough.

  David

• 3. Dave  |  July 6th, 2007 at 8:11 pm

  To me, it seems sensible to spend a few minutes in PhotoShop to protect your investment of ’10s of thousands of US$’

• 4. SEO Dave  |  July 6th, 2007 at 8:56 pm

  After a phone call to a UK eNom employee and resending everything already sent to the retards on eNom support (so sent nothing new) I finally gained access to my domains!

  That took over a week to gain access to what should have been given automatically by eNom.

  Now I’ll be transferring the domains from eNom to Godaddy (never had a problem with Godaddy) since not only do eNom have rubbish technical support run by retards like Michael Gravelle, but they are expensive for domain registration to boot!

  David

• 5. oldie  |  August 8th, 2007 at 2:53 pm

  QUOTED: “State ID = US. Did I mention I live in the UK, there isn’t a national ID (yet).
  Passport: Not everyone including me owns one.
  Drivers Licence: Not all have photo IDs, and what if I didn’t have a driving licence or I was a kid?”
  ————————————-

  In the USA, and probably the UK, children (kids) cannot execute valid legal contracts without the signature of an adult guardian. If your domains are worth multiple $10,000s, then it is not likely that you would want a child to be able to try to steal them.

  In 40 years in business, I’ve never come across -anyone- involved in serious business who did not have some sort of photo ID. Worldwide, that is pretty much a requirement for travel, renting cars or equipment, exchanging bank documents, major purchases, etc.

  Do you really have NOTHING in your wallet with both your name and photo? Work ID, Drivers license, credit card, school ID, gym membership card, etc.?

  If not, again in the USA, a notarized copy of a birth certificate is nearly always accepted as legal ID.

  Having verifiable ID benefits everyone in the domain business, and I’d much rather have it difficult to transfer domain names, than make it easy for someone to steal them.

  (And no, I don’t work for Enom or any other hosting service,)

• 6. kangurex  |  August 9th, 2007 at 12:08 am

  I would like to attract your attention to apparently common practice of hijacking domains.

  1) kangurex.com was registered with registerfly.com and expiry on the 6th of May 2007. I have extended it for a full year using e-gold (please do not enter this web address, at it will create impression, domain is in demand)
  2) I was alerted when my emails stopped arriving.I consulted the ICANN website find pleasing information, that godaddy.com and enom.com will help
  3) Ive immediately registered with godaddy.com for transfer. To find my domain in so called REDEMPTION.
  4) Started to look who is in control of ‘redemption” of MY domain paid twice
  5) Logically, enom.com should be responsible for their reseller - I’ve immediate contacted them asking how can I get back my domain
  6) Johnny Kim using deceptive promises of help, lured me into registration of account with enom.com
  7) Meantime, MY DOMAIN, paid twice, was used for some crap advertising by enom.com - Evident stolen identity case
  Enom.com requested inflated price of USD50 for releasing MINE!, PAID TWICE, domain
  9) It is 9th of August 2007, over 3 months, when I am a victim of organised fraud, for which nobody accept responsibility.
  ICANN in fact , created system which allows for abuse of legal rights of owners by unscrupulous registrars - therefore is responsible partially for fraud.
  Enom is doing well defrauding hundreds of domains

• 7. SEO Dave  |  August 9th, 2007 at 12:14 am

  Hey Oldie.

  I finally got access to my domains from eNom without the need to send a photo ID or any more proof since what I’d provided was more than enough (another eNom employee, UK based sorted the problem out).

  That said I’ll go through your points.

  1. No expert on kids and legal documents here, but reasonably sure you are wrong on this one when it comes to the UK anyway. My kids all own their own domains and I didn’t have to sign anything. And why throw up the red herring about kids trying to steal domains, eNom had no reason to beleive kids/theft was involved so that comment made no sense at all?

  2. I find it hard to believe you’ve checked everyone you’ve been in business with if they have a photo ID so the above is not a valid point. I might as well says most people I’ve met don’t own a photo ID since they haven’t shown me one. Likewise why would anyone tell you they don’t own a photo ID. Reality is you don’t know how many people you’ve dealt with own photo IDs (unless your business requires one of course, mine doesn’t).

  I’ll add to this I’ve never owned a photo ID (I tell a lie, I had a student ID card with a photo for a few years at University) and yet have bank accounts with multiple banks including business accounts (have the usual credit and debit cards). I trade both shares and traded options (high risk investment). None of these required a photo ID.

  I’ve bought cars online (major purchase right), have a mortgage (bought a house recently, another major purchase). Have dealt with various trade only businesses (for stock). Again no photo ID needed, in fact when it came to the mortgage since I put a £36,000 deposit down on the house the mortgage company didn’t even need proof of income (I’m self employed as well).

  I don’t travel (too busy working), I never rent anything (apart from DVDs) since if I need something I buy it.

  And have until the problem with eNom never had a problem involving not having a ID with my photo! I have plenty of stuff with my name and address on it, that’s always been enough identification.

  3 No I have no form of ID with a photo on it (other than old student IDs which I forgot about and probably threw away years ago).

  4 I don’t have a copy of my birth certificate either.

  5. I don’t have a problem with the concept of verifiable ID, my point was I’d verified who I was way beyond what was needed. The reason there was a problem was eNom not me, I was flagged because I had 30+ domains, had I had one domain they’d have transferred the domain with out requiring further proof since I’d proved everything else.

  I proved I had:

  a: Access to the email address used for whois (used the same email address to contact them).
  b: Access to the emails sent regarding the domains (provided specific codes from within those emails).
  c: Access to the username for the Registerfly account.
  d: Access to the Registerfly account (I had the password) the domains were transferred from (provided screenshots of the domains within the Registerfly control panel).
  e: Had a list of all the domains transferred to eNom (30+ of them).

  b, d and e in particular verified me as the owner. Or I’d hacked the real owners PC or something and had access to all that info. Now tell me how would a ID with the domain owners name on it and a photo (could be a photo of anyone) prove I was who I said I was? Remember they did not have a photo of the domain owner and would not be meeting me in person to compare the photo ID against my likeness.

  So a photo ID would have added nothing more to this information and as I stated during the emails with the morons at eNom support it would take me 10 mins to fake a photo ID since they didn’t have a photo of me on record and so I could use a fake ID and they’d be none the wiser.

  eNom support = morons

  David

• 8. Mathew  |  August 14th, 2007 at 12:28 am

  Enom disputes allow them to own your domain names:

  Enom owns your domain names in the event of any dispute.

  Here is their wording on the matter in the agreement they require you to sign to resolve a dispute:

  I understand in the event of a dispute processed by my credit card issuer or any type of processor, eNom Inc. will reserve the right to suspend access to any and all accounts I have, and that all right, title, interest in, and use of any domain names and/or services connected shall be assumed by eNom Inc at their discretion.

• 9. DT  |  August 15th, 2007 at 4:37 am

  Im glad you got that sorted out. The shutting down of Registerfly was one of the web’s biggest fiascos!

• 10. Malcolm Lambe  |  August 27th, 2007 at 3:00 pm

  They are absolute bandits. I’ve had nothing but trouble with them and their lackof customer service is beyond a joke. Their latest trick is to take $8 from my credit card account for ID Protect on an URL that I have flagged as not wanting to renew when it expires. And look at what they charge to register domains!

• 11. Master  |  September 3rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm

  I have a problem with my websites domains names in enom .. and your article will help me

  thank you

• 12. nolikeenom  |  September 5th, 2007 at 2:58 pm

  SEO Dave, love your counterpoints. I live in the US but unlike many I can’t stand the arrogance that some US citizens and businesses have in thinking that everything should be the same throughout the world as it is here. If you don’t need photo ID in the UK and have never had the need for it, more power to you. I personally think that’s wonderful.

  As for domains, I currently have an account with eNom that contains around 150 domain names. I didn’t register these with enom, they were actually registered with bulkregister, which was some time later bought by enom, so they ended up there by default.

  So far I am not thrilled with the service I am getting from enom. It’s not very often I need to make changes to registration information for any of these domains, but it seems like every time I do something is wrong with the enom site - the dns servers are malfunctioning, I can’t have access to certain domains for whatever reason, the site is sluggish and I get page timeouts, on and on.

  But more important is the outrageous fee they charge me to register or renew a name. I am a so-called ‘premium’ member, which basically means I pay them $100 US per year to be in the little premium member circle. And, like I said, I have around 150 domains with them.

  Yet, when I register a new name, or renew a name, I am charged an outrageous $12 each.

  I think that’s absurd, considering the number of domains I have with them, and the fact that I am paying an additional $100 per year as well.

  So, I’d like to get an opinion from anyone here: who is the best registrar to keep and manage my names with, and why?

• 13. kangurex  |  October 1st, 2007 at 11:36 pm

  1) Enom (Jonny Kim) by deception of promise to help to get PAID domain alive, managed to grab my domain. Environment after
  Registerfly failure, helped him to deceive me (message on the ICANN website about help by GODADDY, ambiguous message about transfsfer of details from REGISTERFLY to ENOM )

  2) Since 6th of may I’ve lost my domain. Since June 2007 domain is under control of ENOM though I have informed Jonny Kim that I’ve paid already for transfer to GODADDY.

  3) Now starts chain of avoidance and deception : Hundreds of emails and phones just receive one answer: When ENOM will leave my domain alone, this question is particuarly difficult for unethical business, like ENOM. Believe or not - it is the 2nd of October and I have no answer! after 4 months!

  ICANN ombudsman is just a parody of ombudsman, it is only to vent anger in useless writing. They DO NOT reply emails.

  After nearly half a year of correspondence with ENOM clear picture of organised crime appear:
  ICANN creates policy with loopholes -> Unethical registers grab opportunity to hijack domain and hold hostage for ransom of inflated “price” -> if they will find domain owner resisting they put into automatic system to prevent LEGAL OWNERS of domain from recovering their possession -> auction domain with hope, trhat LEGAL OWNERS will buy back from crooks.

• 14. Ron  |  October 13th, 2007 at 8:52 pm

  WOW !!!

  I have some 2,000 domains that were under Bulkreghister and are now under enom-bulkregister … I have seen some of my renewals lingering without being updated in the records desipte saying “Authorization Succeeded” in the report section … I always make copies and screenshots and all …

  Should I be scared? I am scared as hell from what I read here …

  Let me know the best ethical Registrar … BULKREGISTER was ALWAYS great especially as the owner re-took control of his vision and put it back as a great site … after he did that it gave me so much confidence …

  Now I am worried.

  I want to be able to put my domains on my own server and not leave it to whims of ICANN and their customers the REGISTRARS. We paid good old US Dollars to start with when we paid for … was it ARPANET or something … anyway DOD and all the other network work pioneered by US Government-People Dollars !!!

  Tell me please everything will be alright!!!

  Ron.

• 15. Tracy Acord  |  October 19th, 2007 at 10:43 pm

  Two days ago I decided to move my domain from siteground to godaddy. Come to find out my domain name is setup via eNom. All the transfer was started and verified via Godaddy and as I logged into Siteground, two days later, states my domain name is pending transfer. I called Enom and spoke with Eric (the only Transfer Specialist here in the US) and he stated I have to wait the standard 5 to 8 business days. Now, I have transfered many domain names and this is done in about 15 minutes to 1 hour, not 5-8 days. I told Eric (at eNome) that I need this moved over so I can setup my new exchange server. He stated there is nothing he can do, I have to wait. When I asked about doing a manual transfer, he acted like this was impossible. Finally, he said yes and it took 4 hours for him to send the email.

  When I sent the reply email, I waited two more hours and the transfer has not taken place yet. This time another person stated that Eric is the only person who can do the transfer and he is out to lunch. I left a message for him to call me and let me know the status. Two more hours later, and no call, no transfer. Seems like Enom is a bunch of domain thieves and the worse service I have EVER experienced when it comes to doman names. DO NOT USE ENOM.

  Called and Eric is not in the office again and I need to move the domain over so I can setup my exchange box this weekend and continue doing business with my company.

  All I can say is Eric and ENOM are a bunch of crooks.

• 16. James  |  December 5th, 2007 at 4:34 am

  ICANN transferred custody of the Registerfly names to GoDaddy a couple of months ago. That’s why they were already able to confirm your identity. eNom can only verify the authenticated transfer of your names with a photo ID

• 17. Donald Nelson  |  December 24th, 2007 at 11:24 am

  E-nom positively sucks! Another very bad practice that they engage in is failing to notify you when a domain has expired. Many registrars give you warnings 90 days, 60 days, one month and one week before a domain is about to expire. With enom it is nothing at all.

  If you miss the expiry date, then after some period, you have to pay a huge penalty to get it back (I had to pay $145 for one client).

  So, never, never, never register a domain with enom, and make sure that you don’t register with an enom reseller either.

• 18. Stan Kulski  |  January 7th, 2008 at 4:06 am

  ENOM is unethical business, based on hyena’s approach.
  In MAy I have exptended my domain with infamous registerfly, just to learn next day, that they are taking money for nothing.
  Jonny kim from ENOM has offered help, also godaddy offered help to accept quick transfers.
  It was easy to understand business ethics, that ENOM was responsible for their reseller, registerfly, and wanted to maintain good reputation by helping registerfly vistims.

  so
  .
  1) I’ve paid for registration until May 2008, it has been accepted and indicates in all whois, also in enom correspondence, that I am the owner, the administrator of my legally purchased domain.
  .
  2) I’ve paid for transfer to “godaddy.com” for one year and they requested from me the code to release domain
  .
  As I couldn’t get the code from disgraced “registerfly.com” I’ve used the help from ENOM.COM, who benefited financially from REGISTERFLY. I’ve promptly registered at ENOM.COM, as per request of Mr Jonny Kim from ENOM.COm

  It was the biggest mistake, I’ve ever done - I never believed that theft can be instutionalised by ICANN in their GUIDELINES. And the LAW of contract sale-purchase apparently doesn’t apply to domains ownership - there is NO SUCH THING like domain ownership!!!

  From June i didn’t have access to my emails, my domain was put IN REDEMPTION. For what? Was have I done wrong?

  The code has been hijacked by the ENOM.COM unscrupulous and domain immediately used to put their crap advertising. What could I do, as legal owner of domain? Nothing!
  Enom had my domain, paid twice for free to be used. They blocked my business emails, they hijcaked my emails ignoring my right for privacy.
  .
  After many emails Mr Paul Stahura din’t bother to reply. Ms Elida informed me thet they are entitled to have my domain, for free as long as they wish, they can “put on the market” domain, which is not their property, despite of hundreds of emails,

  Can you imagine? To sell something, what is not your property, to make profit from stolen property in the eyes of the whole Internet community, and be sure, nothing can be done about it?

  My domain has no commercial value, hardly anybody can use it. It s my correspondence , it is my lost emails - I cannot recover.

  Is it fair?

• 19. Aurelio  |  February 27th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

  My domains appeared to be registered with eNom/Anweb as well, although I did not register with them. I received a mailer saying I could renew them at many times their cost. I waiting for a response from their support for about a month now.
  The next step is to ignore them alltogether and legally force them to release the names. I never signed any agreement with them, so I don’t have to worry about their “policies” legally.

• 20. Babette  |  April 1st, 2008 at 2:14 pm

  ENOM will also charge you $6.00/year to hide your personal information from appearing on WHOIS searches. This is provided for FREE by other companies!
  It wasn’t my choice to register with ENOM, I got a custom domain from BLOGGER and had the bad luck of getting ENOM. My friend who registered the same time that I did was lucky, she got registered with another company.

• 21. giulio  |  April 21st, 2008 at 10:40 am

  The internet is a blessing and a curse.

  Curse for all the spammers that are out there, and a blessing in that I can tell you exactly where their offices are, their phone, fax, and mail address from google maps.. bless you google.

  I would recommend that when you receive junk mail asking for you to register for more “advertising material”, just register their address instead.

  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=PMB+368,+14150+NE+20th+St,+Bellevue,+WA+98007+&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.543597,117.421875&ie=UTF8&latlng=47592125,-122131859,16349904957626570731&ei=_GoMSI_1I5WmigPW1MT6AQ&cd=3

  Enjoy the spam eNom!!

• 22. Brian  |  April 25th, 2008 at 12:05 am

  I bought 3 domains from a reseller of theirs who closed up shop shortly afterward. Now they are holding my domains for ransom. They want me to pay 4 times the amount of money I registered each of them for and threatened that unless I pay, they will hold them for up to a year after they expire before they go back on the public market.

  What a bunch of crap! Really sounds like a scam to me.

• 23. Rusty Scott  |  April 30th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

  Tracy Acord I have had the exact same problem with eNom. They force their system into a 5-7 day holding pattern for domain transfers out of the system. Their tech. support will try to say that this is an ICANN requirement that they wait 5-7 days, or that it is some sort of security feature. B…S…! The EPP code and other features fo the transfer mechanism have already verified that I, the owner, have authorized the transfer. From there it should be automatic.

  Every time I call eNom about this SLOW transfer, I get a different answer about the reason. The only thing consistent is that they tell me thaty can’t, or won’t, do anything about it. If this page helps to pull all of eNom’s business away to more ethical registrars, then I’m glad to add my expreience here.

  Stay away from eNom at reduced costs…

• 24. Simon  |  May 1st, 2008 at 5:33 am

  I have domains with enom which I have been unable to work with ever since purchase because of problem after problem with getting their system to recognise the custom dns servers (that work fine with other domains). I have escalated cases in tech support but so far they don’t even have a clue what’s causing the issue. All this time my domains are being used for generating advertising revenue by enom and I’m told by them that this is normal. I am now left thinking that adding my case to a class action lawsuit may be the only way to get anything done.

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