This week I received a notice entitled "Domain Name Expiration Notice" from the Domain Registry of America.  It informed me that my domain name would expire in a few months and that I "must renew your domain name to retain exclusive rights to it on the web" and "Failure to renew your domain anme by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identiity" 

They had my domain name and expiry date correct and they conveniently offered renewal rates for various year terms.

Problem is, they were not the domain name registry  I registered my domain name with.  They do not make it clear that you are in fact transferring the registry from your current registrant to them as well as paying the annual fee.

What Domain Registry of American has done is get the public WhoIs records which list the domain name owner and then send these official looking notices out as though they are offering a convenient renewal service.  Their logo even has the American flag behind it for goodness sakes!

You might automatically pay this thinking it is a renewal bill from your rightful registrant.  Really, who remembers their domain name registrant?  And in order to cover the transfer fee they have to pay ICANN, the head registration authority, Domain Registry has almost double the prices of your actual registrant.

But don't worry, they explain everything on the back of the bill in print so tiny I cannot read it even with my new glasses! It is really quite a scam.  It is not illegal because it is carefully worded to mislead the domain name owner, but cover their legal liability, but it should be.

So find out who your domain name registrant is and find out if you are on automatic renewal or not, and if your payment information is up to date.  Also check that your contact information, especially your email is correct.  That way, your domain name cannot lapse and you can be sure all requests for payment are a scam, like this one.