I have received an email which I thought at first was just another dodgy domain renewal notice a bit like the one from Domain Renewal Group that I reported about 2 years ago. This one arrived by email rather than through the post and I only spotted it when checking my Junk Mail folder; Thunderbird knew what to do with it.
This new notice comes from an outfit called ZUNCH who only seem to have a gmail address zunchdomainservices@gmail.com which indicates that it is a pretty low budget attempt, you would think they would at least use their own domain name. They do have a domain because Zunch.com advertises their Search Engine Optimization services. Of course Zunch.com doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with zunchdomainservices@gmail.com but they do have the same street address and fax number.
This email isn’t a domain renewal scam, instead it is offering “Domain Name Search Engine Registration”, basically it seems to be an overpriced Search Engine Submission service. They don’t say what they do for their fee, which ranges from $42 for 1 year up to a “Best Value” $499 lifetime service, but they try to scare you into paying it by saying Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web.
My advice is delete this email, it doesn’t offer anything worth paying for and may not offer anything at all.
Free Search Engine Submission
These days Google indexes new sites so quickly and so thoroughly that it often has a new site indexed before I set it up in Webmaster Tools (a free service), Bing isn’t quite so quick but again Bing Webmaster Tools is a free service which allows you to submit new sites and offers lots of good monitoring tools to go with it. Yahoo has it’s site explorer (again free) and of course the Open Directory Project is free too.
Given that other search engines usually pick up their data from one of these sources 4 submissions usually gives pretty good results, covering well over 90% of searches. The only other search engine with a significant market share is Baidu but sadly my Chinese language skills are pretty limited. If you have a site dealing with a particular niche there are specialist search engines which can be very useful but for most sites if you submit to Google, Bing, Yahoo and DMOZ your site will be found.
The email from Zunch Domain Services
From: "Zunch Domain Services" <zunchdomainservices@gmail.com>
Reply-To: zunchdomainservices@gmail.com
To: registrar@cotsweb.com
Subject: Domain Notification Mr Mark A Cassie This is your Final Notice of Domain Listing - COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ
| Attention: Important Notice |
DOMAIN SERVICE NOTICE |
Complete and return by fax to:
1-972-455-4848 |
|
15770 N. Dallas Parkway
Suite 450
Dallas, TX 75248
United States of America |
|
ATTN: Mr Mark A Cassie
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT
registrar@cotsweb.com
South Hill Farmhouse, Fosse Wa Stow-on-the-Wold Glos GL541JU
GB
–
COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ |
Domain Name: COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ
Search Engine Submission
Requested Reply
OCTOBER 24, 2011 |
|
| PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION |
Attn: Mr Mark A Cassie
As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration and save.
Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web.
Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine subscription includes domain name search engine submission. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated below unless you accept this offer. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your customers can locate you on the web.
This Notice for: COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ will expire on October 24, 2011 Act today! |
——————————————————————————————–
| DETAIL OF SERVICE: ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION FOR DOMAIN NAME COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ |
|
Detail of Service:
SEARCH SUBMISSIONS |
|
Reply by Date:
10/24/2011 |
|
For Domain Name:
COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ |
|
| Select Term |
Your Existing Domain |
Period Covered |
Price |
|
|
COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ |
|
|
| [ ] 1 year |
|
10/24/2011 – 10/24/2012 |
$42.00 |
| [ ] 2 year |
|
10/24/2011 – 10/24/2013 |
$72.00 (save 15%) |
| [ ] 5 year |
|
10/24/2011 – 10/24/2016 |
$159.00 (save 25%) |
| [ ] 10 year |
-Most Recommended- |
10/24/2011 – 10/24/2021 |
$295.00 (save 30%) |
| [ ] Lifetime (NEW!) |
Limited time offer – Best value! |
Lifetime |
$499.00 |
|
|
|
|
| Please ensure that your contact information is correct or make the necessary changes. |
| Full Name: Mr Mark A Cassie |
Email: registrar@cotsweb.com
Email 2: ____________________
Phone: _____________________ |
| Want to receive this notification for other domains you own? simply list them below:
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________ |
| Today’s Date: _____________________ |
Signature: _____________________ |
|
|
Payment by Credit Card
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BY FAX: 1-972-455-4848
( Please do not include your credit card number on this form just fill the information above and fax it to us, once we receive your fax we will send you instructions on how to make a payment by credit card ) |
|
COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ |
|
|
| ——————————————————————————————– |
| By accepting this offer, you agree not to hold ZUNCH liable for any part. Note that THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated unless you accept this offer. The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged information from the notification processing department of ZUNCH. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. There is no pre-existing relationship between ZUNCH and the domain mentioned above. This notice is not in any part associated with a continuation of services for domain registration. Search engine submission is an optional service that you can use as a part of your website optimization and alone may not increase the traffic to your site. If you do not wish to receive further updates from ZUNCH send an email to zunchdomainservices@gmail.com and in the subject line only put remove to unsubscribe. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents for this letter is strictly prohibited. * 100% satisfaction guaranteed, you may request a refund within 30 days. |
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Please Remove Me From Your Mailing List
In my research for this article I found this blog from Chris Neilsen saying much the same as I have, just delete this email.