{"id":241,"date":"2011-10-25T10:10:29","date_gmt":"2011-10-25T09:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/?p=241"},"modified":"2011-10-25T10:10:29","modified_gmt":"2011-10-25T09:10:29","slug":"domain-registration-scam-zunch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/domain-registration-scam-zunch-241.html","title":{"rendered":"Domain Registration Scam – ZUNCH"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have received an \u00a0email which I thought at first was just another dodgy domain renewal notice a bit like the one from Domain Renewal Group<\/a> that I reported about 2 years ago. \u00a0This 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.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0They do have a domain because Zunch.com<\/a> advertises their Search Engine Optimization services. \u00a0Of 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.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0They don’t say what they do for their fee, which ranges from $42 for 1 year up to a “Best Value” $499 lifetime service, \u00a0but 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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My advice is delete this email, it doesn’t offer anything worth paying for and may not offer anything at all.<\/p>\n

Free Search Engine Submission<\/h2>\n

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> (a free service), \u00a0Bing isn’t quite so quick but again Bing Webmaster Tools<\/a> \u00a0is a free service which allows you to submit new sites and offers lots of good monitoring tools to go with it. \u00a0Yahoo has it’s site explorer<\/a> (again free) and of course the Open Directory Project<\/a> is free too.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

The email from Zunch Domain Services<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
From: "Zunch Domain Services" &lt;zunchdomainservices@gmail.com&gt;\nReply-To: zunchdomainservices@gmail.com\nTo: registrar@cotsweb.com\nSubject: Domain Notification Mr Mark A Cassie This is your Final Notice of Domain Listing - COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n
Attention: Important Notice<\/strong><\/td>\nDOMAIN SERVICE NOTICE<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
Complete and return by fax to: <\/strong>
\n1-972-455-4848 <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n		15770 N. Dallas Parkway
\nSuite 450
\nDallas, TX 75248
\nUnited States of America <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ATTN:<\/strong>\u00a0Mr Mark A Cassie<\/strong> 
\nADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT\u00a0<\/strong>
\nregistrar@cotsweb.com
\nSouth Hill Farmhouse, Fosse Wa Stow-on-the-Wold Glos GL541JU
\nGB
\n–
\nCOTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ<\/td>\n		Domain Name:\u00a0COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ<\/strong> 
\n<\/strong>Search Engine Submission<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
 Requested Reply
\n<\/strong>OCTOBER 24, 2011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Attn:\u00a0Mr Mark A Cassie<\/strong> 
\nAs 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
This Notice for:\u00a0COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ will expire on October 24, 2011 Act today!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
——————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
DETAIL OF SERVICE: ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION FOR DOMAIN NAME\u00a0COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n
Detail of Service:
\n<\/strong>SEARCH SUBMISSIONS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\n\n\n
Reply by Date:<\/strong>
\n10\/24\/2011<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\n\n\n\n
For Domain Name:
\nCOTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n
Select Term<\/strong><\/td>\nYour Existing Domain <\/strong><\/td>\nPeriod Covered<\/strong><\/td>\nPrice<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nCOTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
[ ] 1 year<\/td>\n<\/td>\n10\/24\/2011 – 10\/24\/2012<\/td>\n$42.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
[ ] 2 year<\/td>\n<\/td>\n10\/24\/2011 – 10\/24\/2013<\/td>\n$72.00 (save 15%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
[ ] 5 year<\/td>\n<\/td>\n10\/24\/2011 – 10\/24\/2016<\/td>\n$159.00 (save 25%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
[ ] 10 year<\/strong><\/td>\n-Most Recommended- <\/strong><\/td>\n10\/24\/2011 – 10\/24\/2021 <\/strong><\/td>\n$295.00 (save 30%) <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
[ ] Lifetime (NEW!) <\/strong><\/td>\nLimited time offer – Best value! <\/strong><\/td>\nLifetime<\/strong><\/td>\n$499.00 <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Please ensure that your contact information is correct or make the necessary changes. <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Full Name:\u00a0<\/strong> Mr Mark A Cassie<\/td>\nEmail:<\/strong>\u00a0 registrar@cotsweb.com<\/p>\n
Email 2: <\/strong>____________________<\/p>\n
Phone: <\/strong>_____________________<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Want to receive this notification for other domains you own? simply list them below:<\/p>\n
_____________________ _____________________<\/p>\n
_____________________ _____________________<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Today’s Date:<\/strong> _____________________<\/td>\nSignature:<\/strong> _____________________<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 Payment by Credit Card
\nPLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BY FAX: 1-972-455-4848
\n<\/strong>( 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 ) <\/em><\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n<\/strong>COTSWOLDBEDANDBREAKFAST.BIZ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
——————————————————————————————–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\u00a0zunchdomainservices@gmail.com<\/a> 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\u00a0 this letter is strictly prohibited. * 100% satisfaction guaranteed, you may request a refund within 30 days.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
 Please Remove Me From Your Mailing List\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In my research for this article I found this blog from Chris Neilsen<\/a> saying much the same as I have, just delete this email.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have received an \u00a0email 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. \u00a0This one arrived by email rather than through the post and I only spotted it when checking my Junk Mail folder; Thunderbird […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[78,77,21],"tags":[79,80,82,113,72,112],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":246,"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241\/revisions\/246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cotsweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}