Handling a domain 'extortionist'

[Bizkit87]

So i'm not too clued up abou this, but have a fair idea that someone is trying to take my S/O's company for a ride.

Some background:

1. S/O's company has a website, and is hosted with <hosting_company - Company A>. Last week they receive an invoice from <not_their_hosting_company - Company B> threatining 'legal' action for 'unpaid' invoice for their domain, but it is not their domain....

so their actual domain is: www.<businessname>wines.co.za

invoice for www.<businessname>winery.co.za

I told her to tell this Company B to go f themselves, and have advised her to get their lawyer to demand a handover as this could only be an extortion tactic. Company B can in no way have any business related to <business name> or wine [Company B being a 'IT' company]

what is the right way to handle this ?

 

[Foxhound5366]

Dude, how is this even a thing? Was this even a legit South African company? I quite regularly get spam mails from Chinese hosting providers claiming that they've detected domain name conflicts etc with our domain, which I just ignore because they're so clearly spam (e.g. dodgy generic e-mail addresses).

If you feel it's a bit more legit that simple spam, you could just advise them that the URL's are different and that you aren't using their services and therefore don't owe them anything, and see how they respond. No need to lawyer up this early on.

 

[Bizkit87]

Dude, how is this even a thing? Was this even a legit South African company? I quite regularly get spam mails from Chinese hosting providers claiming that they've detected domain name conflicts etc with our domain, which I just ignore because they're so clearly spam (e.g. dodgy generic e-mail addresses).

If you feel it's a bit more legit that simple spam, you could just advise them that the URL's are different and that you aren't using their services and therefore don't owe them anything, and see how they respond. No need to lawyer up this early on.

Reason i told her to effectively lawyer up was due to hostility she received over the phone, with the person from Company B demanding my S/O to hand over their card details immediately for payment, and refusing to listen to reason.

EDIT: yes , company B is registered and operational

 

[Foxhound5366]

Reason i told her to effectively lawyer up was due to hostility she received over the fone, with the person from Company B demanding my S/O to hand over their card details immediately for payment, and refusing to listen to reason.

EDIT: yes , company B is registered and operational

You know what this sounds like to me? It sounds like Company B has handed over an overdue account to a debt collector who is claiming to be from Company B, and made an incorrect assumption about your wife's company. I'd suggest your wife contacts Company B directly and asks to speak to the Financial Manager to sort this out.

 

[DMNknight]

So i'm not too clued up abou this, but have a fair idea that someone is trying to take my S/O's company for a ride.

Some background:

1. S/O's company has a website, and is hosted with <hosting_company - Company A>. Last week they receive an invoice from <not_their_hosting_company - Company B> threatining 'legal' action for 'unpaid' invoice for their domain, but it is not their domain....

so their actual domain is: www.<businessname>wines.co.za

invoice for www.<businessname>winery.co.za

I told her to tell this Company B to go f themselves, and have advised her to get their lawyer to demand a handover as this could only be an extortion tactic. Company B can in no way have any business related to <business name> or wine [Company B being a 'IT' company]

what is the right way to handle this ?

There is no <BusinessName>Winery domain that even corresponds to a <BusinessName>Wines .co.za domain.

If an invoice has been issued, then that is misrepresentation with criminal intent to defraud.
Get the police involved imho.

Too many people are getting away with this rubbish that goes unreported. Appreciated if you could supply Company B's name so as I can avoid said company and warn friends.

 

[Thor]

It has to be asked


Is this a Chinese company?

 

[LazyLion]

Send them a fax or an email that lays out your view of the matter....

 

[aybbleek]

This is such rubbish - they are trying to defraud you. Who is this Company B? Please warn the rest of us

 

[Bizkit87]

There is no <BusinessName>Winery domain that even corresponds to a <BusinessName>Wines .co.za domain.

If an invoice has been issued, then that is misrepresentation with criminal intent to defraud.
Get the police involved imho.

Too many people are getting away with this rubbish that goes unreported. Appreciated if you could supply Company B's name so as I can avoid said company and warn friends.

It has to be asked


Is this a Chinese company?

This is such rubbish - they are trying to defraud you. Who is this Company B? Please warn the rest of us

Won't divulge their name just yet, giving my S/O's company time, apprently they got their lawyer to send them a letter and try and clear out.

If it's sorted, and the company was trying to be shady, i'll make a post here about them.

 

[The Flight Guru]

Let them issue a summons to appear in court - make sure you're never home lol. I guarantee it will never appear. I have been given numerous cease and desists in my time. Only when a real law firm makes contact is there a need to heed the law. If this is legit and you do end up fighting it legally make sure they compensate you NICELY for your domain.

 

[aybbleek]

Won't divulge their name just yet, giving my S/O's company time, apprently they got their lawyer to send them a letter and try and clear out.

If it's sorted, and the company was trying to be shady, i'll make a post here about them.

Best of luck - hope you win with this