To start things off, we need to make this very clear. Firetrust Limited, producers of awesome software MailWasher, do not and have never owned these domain names.
www.firetrust.net.cn www.firetrust.org.cnNope! Those aren’t ours, we *do* own others like www.firetrust.com, www.firetrust.org and many more, but not those two ending in “.cn”
And to be fair, figuring out on exactly which website names to purchase can be expensive. You need to draw a line as to how far you’ll go, otherwise you could end up with hundreds of different variations. Chinese customers aren’t in our scope, therefore why own the Chinese variation of a Firetrust website.
Someone however has recently registered these domain names, and the irony is that the company (or person) who registered these website names, is using them in scammy emails. The same kind of scammy emails we posted about in the Blog on 10th March 2008.
http://www.firetrust.com/en/blog/chris/domain-name-scams
The email looks something like this. Keep in mind when you read this email, that it’s a scam. There is no such company in China trying to register any website here, it’s a scare tactic, used to likely drum up business.
Dear <company name>,Having had your name and address from China Council for the Promotion of International Trade,we now avail ourselves of this opportunity to write to you and have something important need to confirm with your company.
We are registration service center authorized by CHINAGOV (THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF THE STATE COMMISSION OFFICE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM) in China.We received a formal application from a company(According to The China Law & Privacy Policy,Hidden The Real Name) is applying to register " <company name> " as their domain names and internet brand in China and also in Asia on June 10,2008. Considering domains and internet brand would involve the intellectual property of your company’s name,patents,trademarks,and copyright, and in order to avoid confusion between them, so we inform you urgently.
At present, many domain name registries or domain name investment companies in China and even the world register domains and internet brand,and then sell them to the owner of trademark at high prices to make huge profit. Therefore, we remind you particularly that if you considered these domain names and internet brand are very important to you and there is necessary to protect them by registering them first, please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me as soon as possible,according to the register principle, the original owner of the trademark has the priority to register.Thank you for you cooperation.
Looking forward to your prompt reply,
Kind Regards,
Dr. Jason Wang
Chief Law Officer,Senior Consulting DirectorInternet Brand Justice & Safety Dept.
FireTrust Technology Ltd.
Address: Unit2-602,Building4,Third Qianjiang Community,Hangzhou, China
Tel: +86-571-28927205 ext.805(Mon–Fri,9am to 6:30pm,GMT+8) Fax: +86-571-28926277
Email: Jason.Wang@FireTrust.net.cn Web: www.FireTrust.net.cn www.FireTrust.org.cn
Given there is no such company that I know of legally registered in China called “Firetrust Technology Ltd”, this would seem to be a very bad attempt by the scammers to cause some negative feedback against Firetrust, after all we are naming and shaming them in the blog.
However I have to respect their choice of Departmental names “Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept.” is one of the coolest Department names I’ve heard inside an internet based business. Sounds like something out of a Marvel Comic book.
We aren’t without our own super powers though, we did some sleuthing ourselves and found some official pictures of Jason Wang, who works in the “Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept”
We believe though he may be taking his job too seriously, it’s not yet clear which individual is pictured to his right.
Jason Wang
In the interests of healthy competition I too now work in a department called “Internet Brand Justice” and I too have a costume. This is me on my way to work, toot your horn if you see me.
Me on my way to work
Warmest regards
Chris
Internet Brand Justice
Firetrust Limited
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your information.
I had also received recently those scammy emails and told them I don't need their service.
Today I received again an email from them in more persuasive and demanding. Do you have any suggestion what should I do? I guess some people had been scam already by them.
Here is the email:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am very sorry that you handle this matter with such attitude. I can't contact you for such a long time. I also don't know where is the key problem is.I just want to help you protect intellectual property right instead of you would do as what I said to you. You own the preferential right to register these domain names and internet brand,but it does not mean they belong to you. If you think they are not important for you, you can abandon and we will register for the third party.Once the third party apply successfully, the possess right of these domain names and internet brand belongs to the third party not yours. That means you will lose the market in these domains and internet brand. It becomes the key point of why the global domain names and internet brand become so important. For it affects whether a company brand can exist or not.If you think we are helping you, please contact us as soon as possible for the dispute time is almost at its end. Please tell us your decision so that we can handle the next step. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
Looking forward to your prompt reply,
Best regards,
Sandy Feng
2008-07-17
Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept. FireTrust Technology Ltd.
Address: Unit2-602,Building4,Third Qianjiang Community,Hangzhou, China
Tel: +86-571-28927205 ext.803(Mon?Fri,9am to 6:30pm,GMT+8) Fax: +86-571-28926277
Email: Sandy.Feng@FireTrust.net.cn Web: www.FireTrust.net.cn www.FireTrust.org.cn
First it started like this ...
From: tom@mepdnschina.org.cn [mailto:tom@mepdnschina.org.cn]
Sent: 25 June 2008 07:10
To: sales
Subject: Urgent- Dispute of Asia/ China Domains with your entity
(If you are not the person who is in charge of this, please forward to the right person/department. Thank you)
Dear CEO,
We , a registration organization in China, have something to confirm with you. We formally received an application on Jun.24th. One company called "Spond Investment Corporation" is applying for "tandrgenerators" as internet brand and following Asian/.CN domain names to use.
tandrgenerators.asia
tandrgenerators.com.tw
tandrgenerators.hk
tandrgenerators.net.cn
tandrgenerators.org.cn
tandrgenerators.tw
After our initial checking, we found the internet brand and these domain names being applied are as same as your company’s, so we need to get the confirmation from your company. If the aforesaid company is your business partner or your subsidiary company, please DO NOT reply us, we will approve the application automatically. If you have no any relationship with this company, please contact us within 7 workdays. If out of the deadline, we will approve the application submitted by "Spond Investment Corporation" unconditionally.
Best Regards,
Tom Xiang
Senior Director
Tel: +0086-21-2973-1795
Fax: +0086-21-5271-5978
Website: www.china-domainsolution..org.cn
2008-06-25
I threatened to put the case to our solicitors, noew it has gone to this:
From: stephen.kang [mailto:stephen.kang@asia-channel.cn]
Sent: 28 July 2008 10:55
To: sales
Cc: info
Subject: T&R Generators information request
Dear T&R Generators ,
We are one of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution (DNDR) Committee members authorized by ANIC(Asia Internet Network Information Center).
Now we have something urgent need to confirm with your company.
On the July 27, 2008, we received the LodySun Investment(China) 's application that they want to register the “tandrgenerators ” as their Internet Brand and Asia Pacific domains. Considering these domains and internet brand would involve the intellectual property of your company’s name,patents,trademarks,and copyright, and in order to avoid confusion between them, so we inform you urgently.If you considered these domains and internet brand are important to you and there was necessary to protect them by registering them first, please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me as soon as possible.Thank you for you cooperation.
Waiting for your urgent reply,
Kind Regards,
Stephen Kang
Chief Law Officer,Senior Consulting Director
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept.
Asia Channel Limited
Address: Unit2-602,Building4,Third Qianjiang Community,Hangzhou, China
Tel:+86-571-28927205ext.801(Mon–Fri,9amto6:30pm,GMT+8) Fax: +86-571-28926277
Email:stephen.kang@asia-channel.cn
Do you notice the same address as used in your own scam with regards to Firetrust
Trust this helps
Regards
Steve
I have owned mayaparadise.com and mayaparadise.net for over 10 years. Recently I received the email shown below and so far we have batted about 10 emails back and forth. One problem seems to be a woeful lack of ability with the English language. I'm still not sure what their game is about.
====
Dear Manager,
Asia Network is the company of internet services that the domain registration is one of the major online style of our service range. Now we have something need to confirm with you. We hope you to cooperate with us. On July 28h 2008, we received an application from one person named “Karl Fischer” who wants to register some domains(mayaparadise.org mayaparadise.mobi mayaparadise.info mayaparadise.eu)and internet brand(Mayaparadise). According to our investigation, we found that domain names have relevance to your company’s name and trademark, so we send this email for you to confirm it. We are dealing with this affair in these days, so we wish to get the confirmation and the assent of your company. If Karl Fischer doesn’t belong to your company and you don’t authorize him to register these domains, Pls contact with me asap in order to prevent some guy from abusing your trademarks and the company names.
In addition, I must state that we have time limited for one person or one company’s registration. It is just 15 days. If your company files doesn't resent within the time limited. We will unconditionally authorized the application of Karl Fischer. In order to deal with this issue better,please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me asap. Thank you for your cooperate.
Best Regards,
Robin Chu
Sponsoring Registrar:
Asia Network
Add:UNITS A&B 15/F NEICH TOWER 128 GLOUCESTER RD WANCHAI,HK
Tel: (852)3118 1808
Fax: (852)3065 8189
Email: robin@asianetworks.asia
Website: www.asianetworks.asia
I tried to figure out what the point is, since it does not look like they are selling a service? I thought they'd try to make us register a .cn domain through them, but so far they haven't tried to sell anything.
this puzzles me - why have such an elaborate scam going, for no apparent purpose? unless they are collecting working email addresses for further spam.
What do you think is the goal behind this?
By the way, I love the new costume - I feel safer already ...
Hi phil, hi everyone, i just recieved basically the same email as Phil, again i do not know what they are after?
email:
Dear Manager,
Asia Network is the company of internet services that the domain registration is one of the major online style of our service range.Now we have something need to confirm with you.We hope you to cooperate with us.On August 14th 2008,we received an application from one person named “Karl Fischer” who wants to register some domains(macribrothers.com.au macribrothers.cn macribrothers.asia macribrothers.de macribrothers.ru)and internet brand(macribrothers).According to our investigation,we found that domain names have relevance to your company’s name and trademark,so we send this email for you to confirm it.We are dealing with this affair in these days,so we wish to get the confirmation and the assent of your company.If Karl Fischer doesn’t belong to your company and you don’t authorize him to register these domains,Pls contact with me asap in order to prevent some guy from abusing your trademarks and the company names.
In addition,I must declare that we have time limited for one person or one company’s registration.It is just 15 days.If your company has no response to us within the dispute period,we will unconditionally authorized the application of Karl Fischer.In order to deal with this issue better,please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me asap.Thank you for your cooperate.
Best Regards,
Hii.. :) i am laughing seeing that much of messages as i also got same kinda mail from a China company whose numbers and company name i am publishing here...
###########################################
Mail Date : Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:30:43 +0800 [08/10/2008 03:30:43 AM CDT]
From: jerry
Dear Manager
We are shanghai xingguo net technology co.,ltd , an Service organization of Internet in China .
We received likog(HK) Group Ltd's request of registration on 10th, August. This company applied to register internet brand ( MY WEBSITE NAME ) and the related CN(China) domain names through our company .
After checking, we found your company is the original trademark owner. If the company's action haven't been authorized by your company, so their behavior will conflict with your interests.
In order to deal with the matter better,please contact us ASAP.
jerry qi
shanghai xingguo net technology co.,ltd
Tel: 86 21 6482 8692
Fax: 86 21 6482 9517
jerry@xing-guo.org.cn
www.xing-guo.org.cn
###########################################
Mail Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:58:30 +0800 [08/11/2008 04:58:30 AM CDT]
From: jerry@xing-guo.org.cn
Hello,
We are responsible for the dispute of domain name and internet brand.
We have received the application which likog want to register these domain name and internet brand. Now your company has not own them
Domain name: www.MyWebsiteName.cn www.MyWebsiteName.com.cn www.MyWebsiteName.asia
Internet brand: MyWebsiteName
according to the open registration principles,they can register it. Now we are auditing these domain names and internet brand,and during this time,the original trademark holder has the priority to register firstly,and this is the reason I inform you this matter. The priority time is 5-7 workdays
In our checking period ,if your company do not want other to register them ,you must register them. And i will send you an application form to fill out .Our disputed department will use it to reject likog's application and help your company to register it firstly .
If you think that they are not important,and want to give up the right,we will help likog to finish the registration. Looking forward your response.
jerry
###########################################
Mail Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:16:14 +0800 [08/12/2008 03:16:14 AM CDT]
From: jerry
Hi
The attachment is an application form. the information of price and time limit. you can send the form to us after you finish it. We will use the application form to reject likog(HK) Group Ltd company's application and finish the registration for your company according to the information on the application form please choose the domain name you are interested in the application form
Please fill out the form before thursday and send me back
jerry
2008-08-12
jerry
###########################################
The Prices they mentioned in their mail are as follows :D you gonna laugh to read the following prices.. :)
www.MYWEBSITENAME.cn ? 29€EUR/1year
www.MYWEBSITENAME.com.cn ? 29€EUR/1year
www.MYWEBSITENAME.asia ? 99€EUR/1year
Internet Brand Name = MYWEBSITENAME ? 99€EUR/1year
and minimum time period for each domains are the following :) :D
*Years of registration ?10years ?15years ?20years
Coooooooooool isn't it? :D haha.... dump chinese ...
###########################################
I was doubtful about this email so i just said i have forwarded this matter to my legal department... i visited the site link which they given in their email and my doubt was got more stronger when i found their website links were broken... but still there was a thing in my mind that what if really someone own my brand name... :) anyways.. i just searched on google about internet brand names and i reached here :) thanks to everyone who posted details in this blog... really the messages helps someone in need...
i wanna say here , "SUCH CHINESE ARE DUMP ASS :D BASTARDS... " They just try to cheat and try to make fool of others... It is world wide known that how china is stealing top brand names and looks ( like SONY, NOKIA, Disney and so on... )
Thanks everyone for your messages... Keep writing whenever you detect any fraud people...
Dharm from India :)
Dear ZNA specializes,
We are one of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution (DNDR) Committee members authorized by ANIC(Asia Internet Network Information Center).Now we have something urgent need to confirm with your company.
On the Aug 18, 2008, we received an applicationthe from A group of international investment who applied to register the ¡°nursepostcard ¡± as their Internet Brand and Asia Pacific domains. Considering domains and internet brand would involve the intellectual property of your company¡¯s name,patents,trademarks,and copyright, and in order to avoid confusion between them, so we inform you urgently.If you considered these domains and internet brand are important to you and there was necessary to protect them by registering them first, please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me as soon as possible.Thank you for you cooperation.
I am waiting for your urgent reply,
Kind Regards,
Dr. Warren Wang
Chief Law Officer,Senior Consulting Director
Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept.
Asia Channel Limited
Tel: +86-571-86727080 ext.808(Mon¨CFri,9am to 6:30pm,GMT+8)
Fax: +86-571-28926277 Mail: Warren.Wang@asia-channel.cn
I got one today too, from none other than Dr.(that sounds very James Bond-ish) Bollock Wang himself. I'd wasted half an hour of my valuable time this morning with figuring out how just outright dodgy this whole s*** is.
Mongolia Hunter Company. LOL !
Is there any way to shut this nonsense down ?
Dear Sir,
We are one of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution (DNDR) Committee members authorized by ANIC(Asia Internet Network Information Center).
Now we have something urgent need to confirm with your company.
On the Aug 25, 2008, we received The Mongolia Hunter company 's application that they applied to register the "MY WEBSITE" as their Internet Brand and Asia Pacific domains.
Considering these domains and internet brand would involve the intellectual property of your company’s name,patents,trademarks,and copyright, and in order to avoid confusion between them, so we inform you urgently.If you considered these domains and internet brand are important to you and there was necessary to protect them by registering them first, please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me as soon as possible.Thank you for your cooperation.
I am waiting for your urgent reply,
Kind Regards,
Dr. Ballack Wang
Chief Law Officer,Senior Consulting Director
Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept.
Asia Channel Limited
Tel: +86-571-86727080 ext.808(Mon–Fri,9am to 6:30pm,GMT+8)
Fax: +86-571-28926277 Mail: ballack.wang@asia-channel.cn
It's good that Google indexed this blog :-)
This scam hitted Sweden today:
----------------------------------------
We are one of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution (DNDR) Committee members authorized by ANIC(Asia Internet Network Information Center).
Now we have something urgent need to confirm with your company.
On the Sep1, 2008, we received the Hang Kang Investment Co.,Ltd's application that they want to register " xxxxxxxx" as their Internet Brand and Asia Pacific domains.
Considering domains and internet brand would involve the intellectual property of your company’s name,patents,trademarks,and copyright, and in order to avoid confusion between them, so we inform you urgently.If you considered these domain names and internet keywords are important to you and there was necessary to protect them by registering them first, please let someone who is responsible for trademark or domain name contact me as soon as possible,.Thank you for your cooperation.
I am waiting for your urgent reply,
Kind Regards,
Dr. Chris Wang
Chief Law Officer,Senior Consulting Director
Internet Brand Justice & Safety Dept.
Asia Channel Limited
Tel: +86-571-86727080 ext.808(Mon–Fri,9am to 6:30pm,GMT+8)
Fax: +86-571-28926277 Mail: Chris@asia-channel.cn
LOL nice one Chris :o)